Nearshoring , industrial growth, and the need for more efficient and sustainable logistics solutions in the Cali-Baja region are among the opportunities for freight rail to drive its growth. Baja California Railroad (BJRR) , operator of the short-gauge rail line in northwest Mexico, knows the path forward and has a defined plan for 2026 to ensure that this mode of transport is not just an alternative, but becomes the primary logistics option for industry.
“The development of customs infrastructure, binational integration, and market diversification can position rail as the ideal means for transporting large volumes of cargo, particularly in sectors such as energy, agribusiness, and advanced manufacturing. The Cali-Baja mega-region has enormous potential due to its productive integration between Mexico and the United States,” says Roberto Romandía, the company’s CEO, in an interview with T21.
He asserts that strengthening cross-border trade, optimizing rail crossing times, and promoting integrated logistics schemes will attract more companies seeking to reduce costs and improve their international competitiveness . “The trend of industrial relocation also represents a great opportunity to consolidate rail as the backbone of logistics.”
Romandía argues that the railroad is vital for Baja California , since the region has more than a thousand maquiladoras that depend on efficient and competitive supply chains, and this mode of transport offers capacity, safety, cost reduction, less environmental impact and operational stability.
“Many companies are facing complex situations related to union issues, work stoppages, and internal cost pressures. The rail model allows maquiladoras to reduce their internal operating burden—less need for their own operators, less exposure to labor disputes in ground logistics, and less dependence on union schemes in transportation—which has become a strategic asset. Furthermore, they will soon be able to optimize returns to the United States with finished products, further reducing their costs,” he mentions.
The second edition of ETYL Cali-Baja (Transportation and Logistics Meeting) will take place on May 14th. This forum, organized by Grupo T21 , will bring together industry leaders and nearly 200 attendees at the Real Inn Hotel in Tijuana. Through four panels, specialists will analyze the challenges and opportunities in the binational logistics context and their impact on supply chains . For more information about ETYL Cali-Baja, please visit https://baja.etylmx.com/ .
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