The Constitutional Points Commission of the Chamber of Deputies approved the reform to constitutional article 28 , to establish that the Mexican State regains the right to use railway tracks for passenger transportation service, so the federal Executive may grant assignments to public companies or concessions to individuals.
Although individuals who have concessions to provide cargo service may obtain authorizations to provide passenger service. “In any case, preference will be given to the passenger rail transportation service, in terms of what the legislation determines,” according to the changes to the article.
The opinion considers it advisable that the railways have a more efficient use , that is not concentrated on cargo, but that it be extended to passengers with the participation of companies to which the service is assigned or concessioned, “which should lead to the “The transportation of people through the road network is diversified and expanded to the rail network, which intuitively will allow for a reduction in costs for the end user of the service.”
Salvador Caro Cabrera, deputy for Morena, expressed that the aim is to protect the interests of the nation and reverse the effects of the “neoliberal” delivery of the railway sector.
“They are resuming 30 lost years in terms of railway policy and accompanying the President of the Republic in an issue that is fundamental for social justice and the economic development of the country,” he said.
While Héctor Saúl Téllez Hernández, deputy for the PAN, said that they cannot support the ruling because it weakens the country’s economic scenario and could deal a direct blow to the legal certainty that investments must have; Furthermore, it creates uncertainty, instability and does not ensure that the economic system benefits. “We have well-founded doubts about the Army’s operation in this new state-owned company for the management of the passenger rail system,” he said.
The opinion was endorsed on August 2, in general, by 30 votes in favor , eight against and one abstention, and in particular the vote was 26 in favor, eight against and one abstention. It was sent to the Board of Directors for its legal and constitutional effects.
In the transitional ones, it is stated that the Congress of the Union will have a period of 180 calendar days from the entry into force of the decree to make the necessary adjustments.
