Alstom Delivers First Tren Maya Equipment

Alstom photo

Alstom has completed delivery of the first of 42 X'trapolis trainsets for the 946-mile Tren Maya project to Mexico’s federal government and Fondo Nacional de Fomento al Turismo (FONATUR).

The first railcars departed Alstom’s manufacturing facility in Ciudad Sahagún, Hidalgo, on July 3, and travelled on flatcars 1,205 over five days until they reached the Tren Maya workshop and depot in Cancún. There, they will be assembled into a four-car Xiinbal (“Rolling Jaguar”) trainset and undergo testing to validate component functionality and safety prior to integration and testing on the rail infrastructure. Alstom said it expects to complete delivery of all 42 X’trapolis trainsets (219 cars) in fourth-quarter 2024.

Each car is equipped with air conditioning, ergonomic and reclining seats, video surveillance systems and passenger information screens, with dedicated spaces for luggage storage. Since the floor is flat throughout, passengers with reduced mobility will have full freedom of movement. The equipment also features advanced digital technologies such as an ATC (automatic train control) system based on ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System). Alstom will deploy HealthHub and TrainScanner, its digital solutions for condition-based and predictive maintenance, “enabling continuous health and condition monitoring of different train components, signalling and infrastructure to guarantee the maximum reliability and availability, while optimizing lifecycle costs.”

“With these design features, combined with an ability to operate at a maximum speed of 100 mph, these trains will deliver an efficient means of transport and excellent passenger experience,” Alstom noted.

Graphically, the cars depict Mexican art and culture, “reflecting the varied colors and textures of the region’s art, and feature large panoramic windows to allow passengers to enjoy scenic views,” Alstom said.

“This first train, and the 41 other X’trapolis trains we will deliver, would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication by the different teams supporting this project,” commented Maite Ramos, General Director of Alstom Mexico. “We sincerely thank everyone for helping deliver this first train made in Mexico, for Mexico. The Tren Maya project stands out not only for the latest mobility technologies included in the project but also for its representation of the history and culture of Mexico through three different train designs.”

An Alstom-led consortium consisting of Alstom Transport Mexico, Bombardier Transportation México (since acquired by Alstom), Gami Ingeniería e Instalaciones and Construcciones Urales Procesos Industriales signed the contract for the Tren Maya project in June 2021. “For Alstom, construction of the Tren Maya project means an unprecedented opportunity for the industrial and economic development of Mexico, thanks to the generation of more than 7,000 direct and indirect jobs in the local and national railway sector, as well as the contribution to the local economy of 15 Mexican States,” the company noted.

Alstom employs more than 1,700 employees in 15 sites across Mexico. Last year, the company celebrated 70 years in Mexico, “highlighting its contribution to the socioeconomic development of the country and unrivalled experience in supporting the development of Mexico’s mobility needs, both public transit and freight, through projects such as the construction of the country’s first metro line in 1968—Line 1 in Mexico City—to maintenance projects for the main national freight operators. Since its establishment in Mexico, Alstom has been committed to protecting employees, customers and society, while preserving the environment, and has therefore developed a comprehensive and proactive sustainability and CSR policy, supporting 17 local community-related projects to date. In 2023, Alstom was certified Top Employer in Mexico for the third year in a row by the Top Employer Institute.”