The first 20 km, including the following stations: Zinacantepec, Toluca Centro, Metepec and Lerma, benefiting half a million people.
Mexico City, September 15, 2023: “This work in its first stage is proof that we cannot leave unfinished works,” said President Andrés Manuel López Obrador at the inauguration of the first 20 kilometers of “El Insurgente”, the Mexico-Toluca Interurban Train.
“Everyone knows that when we entered the government this work was started… and we could say: it was estimated at 30 billion, but it is going to cost -as it is real- 94 billion… but already those 30 billion that had been invested were going to be left lying around.
“An unfinished work means throwing away money from the budget, which is the people’s money, and we cannot act irresponsibly. That is why it was decided to give it continuity. We are missing 38 kilometers, there is the commitment that we will finish in December.”
After recalling that the times in which works were stopped due to non-compliance and litigation were left behind, the chief executive thanked the engineers, businessmen and construction companies for their work because they have conducted themselves responsibly, as well as Banobras, for facilitating the financing.
“And my recognition to the construction workers, because now we are going to get on the train, we are going to use it and we are going to forget that many construction workers have been working. A round of applause to all of them.”
After stressing that it is very important to know our history, he explained that the Mexico-Toluca Intercity Train is named “El Insurgente” in honor of the Father of the Nation, a humanist who also fought on the Cerro de las Cruces (currently the municipality of Ocoyoacac, State of Mexico) and preferred not to risk the lives of thousands of insurgents and royalists despite having been able to take Mexico City in the fight for our Independence.
“Hence, when they asked me what to name this new train I thought of the rebel priest, well, Miguel Hidalgo, who gave his life, not only for Mexico’s independence, what we commemorate today at night, but also for justice, because he was the first to proclaim the abolition of slavery.
“That is why this train bears the name ‘El Insurgente’, because it passes, in addition, through Cerro de Las Cruces.”
The governor-elect of the State of Mexico, Delfina Gómez Álvarez, highlighted the collaboration between the federal and state governments, and said that “El Insurgente” is a reflection of a fundamental value of the Fourth Transformation: giving priority to the needs of the people, since the welfare of the people is above all else.
“It will have a great impact on the quality of life of the people of the State of Mexico, as it will be a fast, safe and efficient means of transportation, with an estimated daily demand of 230 thousand people when its seven stations are in operation; it will also take approximately 39 minutes to travel the 57 kilometers from the terminal in Zinacantepec to Observatorio.”
Governor Alfredo del Mazo Maza stated that “El Insurgente” is the only one of its kind in Latin America and will place the State of Mexico at the forefront of high-capacity public transportation. In addition, it will form an urban corridor that modernizes the state capital, promoting its organization and providing new opportunities for families.
The Secretary of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation, Jorge Nuño Lara, informed that the project involved an investment of 35 billion pesos and generated 6,500 direct jobs and 18,000 indirect jobs.
He said that with this great work of infrastructure our country joins the big leagues of intercity passenger trains, with which we renew the train trip, as our grandparents did.
“Mexico places itself at the height of global trends in mobility, adopting cutting-edge, sustainable and intermodal technology such as passenger trains.”
He added that joint work continues with the Mexico City government to conclude the 38 km corresponding to the second stage with an investment of 62 billion pesos to connect the Santa Fe, Vasco de Quiroga and Observatorio stations.
“The integration of both stages will benefit more than five million inhabitants and will cause a renewed boost to commerce and industry.”
The general director of Banco Nacional de Obras y Servicios Públicos (BANOBRAS), Jorge Mendoza Sánchez, recalled that ‘El Insurgente’ is the first intercity passenger train to be inaugurated in the last 26 years.
He said that an agreement was formalized with transportation companies from the State of Mexico to facilitate the population’s access to the stations in order to make it easier to get to and from the facilities.
The President was also accompanied by the Secretaries of the Interior, Luisa María Alcalde Luján, and of Security and Citizen Protection, Rosa Icela Rodríguez Velázquez, as well as by the Secretary of Finance and Public Credit, Rogelio Ramírez de la O.
First stage of “El Insurgente“
The first stage of the Mexico-Toluca Interurban Train, “El Insurgente”, which runs 20 km along the stations: Zinacantepec, Toluca Centro, Metepec and Lerma, starts operating today:
- Benefits half a million inhabitants
- Travel time: 20 minutes at a maximum speed of 80 km per hour.
- During September the service is free of charge; the fare is 15 pesos per person from October 1st to June 2024, regardless of the route.
- You can access with the CDMX integrated mobility card -soon to be available in the transportation systems of the State of Mexico-, or purchase a ticket at the station module
- It provides service 365 days a year with an initial schedule from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., with a frequency of 15 minutes.
- Users can check the train arrival time on the platform screen.
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