Mexican rail officials address needed international Monterrey to San Antonio passenger service
July 30th, 2021
EXCLUSIVE - Updated August 5, 2021 - TRA Newswire -
In a special Texas Rail Advocates online presentation Wednesday evening August 4th, officials of Mexico's state-owned rail system laid out how they want to address a passenger rail corridor between Monterrey, MX and San Antonio and work with their U.S. counterparts to make it a reality.
David Camacho, who heads up the Regulatory Agency for Rail Transport in Mexico and Director General Baldomero Garza, from Mexico's Acencia Reguladora Del Transporte Ferroviario, explained that the Mexican government is interested to see passenger rail service in the high traffic corridor. Camacho and Garcia explained through a Power Point presentation the steps that are needed to complete passenger rail improvements on the Mexican side.
Interest was raised about cross-border passenger rail service after TxDOT and the U.S Department of Transportation completed the Service Level Environmental Impact Statement of the Texas-Oklahoma Passenger Rail Study (TOPRS) in 2017 and a subsequent Texas-Mexico Border Master Transportation Plan issued earlier this year. The TOPRS report indicated that service from conventional speeds to up high-speed rail is possible in various segments from Oklahoma City through the DFW area to Austin, San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley. Since the Service Level EIS was published, there had been little movement from TxDOT until now to advance the rail corridor. Camacho explained that there are now regularly scheduled meetings between Mexico and TxDOT/ Federal counterparts to work through details for the service.
"It will take a cooperative effort between both countries, the Texas Transportation Commission, the Texas Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Transportation, freight railroads in the U.S. and passenger rail provider Amtrak on the U.S. side to make this international passenger rail corridor a reality", according to Texas Rail Advocates President Peter LeCody. "We look forward to working with all parties to advance this corridor. There is already international train service between Canada and the U.S. and there is no reason why we shouldn't link the Southern border."
The presentation and discussion was held during the monthly board/general public meeting of Texas Rail Advocates. TRA is a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to educate and inform the public on the benefits of freight and passenger rail in Texas and the Southwest.
In a special Texas Rail Advocates online presentation Wednesday evening August 4th, officials of Mexico's state-owned rail system laid out how they want to address a passenger rail corridor between Monterrey, MX and San Antonio and work with their U.S. counterparts to make it a reality.
David Camacho, who heads up the Regulatory Agency for Rail Transport in Mexico and Director General Baldomero Garza, from Mexico's Acencia Reguladora Del Transporte Ferroviario, explained that the Mexican government is interested to see passenger rail service in the high traffic corridor. Camacho and Garcia explained through a Power Point presentation the steps that are needed to complete passenger rail improvements on the Mexican side.
Interest was raised about cross-border passenger rail service after TxDOT and the U.S Department of Transportation completed the Service Level Environmental Impact Statement of the Texas-Oklahoma Passenger Rail Study (TOPRS) in 2017 and a subsequent Texas-Mexico Border Master Transportation Plan issued earlier this year. The TOPRS report indicated that service from conventional speeds to up high-speed rail is possible in various segments from Oklahoma City through the DFW area to Austin, San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley. Since the Service Level EIS was published, there had been little movement from TxDOT until now to advance the rail corridor. Camacho explained that there are now regularly scheduled meetings between Mexico and TxDOT/ Federal counterparts to work through details for the service.
"It will take a cooperative effort between both countries, the Texas Transportation Commission, the Texas Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Transportation, freight railroads in the U.S. and passenger rail provider Amtrak on the U.S. side to make this international passenger rail corridor a reality", according to Texas Rail Advocates President Peter LeCody. "We look forward to working with all parties to advance this corridor. There is already international train service between Canada and the U.S. and there is no reason why we shouldn't link the Southern border."
The presentation and discussion was held during the monthly board/general public meeting of Texas Rail Advocates. TRA is a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to educate and inform the public on the benefits of freight and passenger rail in Texas and the Southwest.