Mexico reviews Grupo México rail route in Sonora

The Mexican government is reviewing Grupo México's rail concession on the route from Nogales to Nacozari, Sonora. President Claudia Sheinbaum announced the review on Tuesday, September 22, noting that railway concessionaires are required to maintain track infrastructure but do not always do so.

Andrés Lajous, head of the Agency of Trains and Integrated Public Transport, is conducting an in-depth evaluation of the agreement. The scrutiny follows a July 26 derailment involving a train operated by Ferromex, a subsidiary of Grupo México. The accident caused a spill of between 59,000 and 70,000 liters of sodium hydrosulfide in Naco, Sonora.

Juan Carlos Machorro, a partner at law firm Santamarina y Steta, told El Universal that revoking a federal railway concession could send complex signals regarding legal certainty for private investment. He called for any review to remain transparent, strictly adhere to the law, and rely on technical evidence to protect public safety and the environment.

Manuel Valencia, an academic at Tecnológico de Monterrey, stated that public discussion of the concession likely serves as a negotiation tactic with Grupo México. He noted that revoking the route over accidents or compliance failures would send a sensitive message to both domestic and international investors.