Following the derailment of one of its trains in Sonora on July 25, Ferromex reported that the incident was caused by a landslide, which resulted in no injuries. The company also stated that the cleanup of the spilled chemical and the restoration of rail service have been completed .

The company stated that through the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) and the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) it has been specified that the incident did not represent an immediate risk to the population , although various studies are being carried out to learn about some of the probable impacts.

“The spilled materials have been collected, aerial monitoring showed no evidence of a widespread spill in the area, and laboratory studies and soil sampling are currently being carried out in the area they have delimited so that they can later offer their final conclusions. Ferromex is implementing the immediate actions and measures indicated by Semarnat and Profepa,” he explained.

Ferromex stated that train service was restored last Wednesday, July 29 , and that the removal of the units from the incident area is nearing completion.

It should be remembered that the incident occurred in the vicinity of the Cuauhtémoc ejido, 20 kilometers from the municipality of Naco, Sonora, in an unpopulated area.

Similarly, Ferromex stated that the incident was caused by a landslide at the ends of a culvert as a result of excessive water accumulation from heavy rains in the region, which weakened the structure of the track, without there being any injured or affected persons nor official record of health consequences related to this event, “as has been falsely mentioned.”

“From the very first moment, the company’s security and civil protection protocols were activated, and the corresponding authorities at different levels of government were notified,” he emphasized.

The event caused a runoff of sodium hydrosulfide and a spill of copper concentrate, so company personnel immediately went to the area and, with the support of municipal, state and federal authorities, carried out work to contain the leak and collect the spilled materials.

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El cargo Ferromex clarifies that the derailment in Sonora was due to a landslide. apareció primero en T21.

In the early morning of July 26, in the vicinity of Rancho Potrero El Cobre, in the ejido Cuauhtémoc, municipality of Naco, Sonora, a derailment of several units of a Ferromex train was recorded, causing the spill of sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS).

Therefore, the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) announced that it is addressing the environmental emergency resulting from the spill of approximately 59,000 liters of said chemical .

“The Attorney General’s Office is conducting inspections and assessments to determine the environmental impact. Following the accident report, personnel from the State Civil Protection Coordination went to the site, where emergency responders and representatives from the companies involved were already present. During the initial inspection, it was confirmed that no one was injured as a result of the derailment,” he said.

He specified that as part of the contingency response, Conagua carried out monitoring and sampling of water and soil to identify possible environmental impacts , while authorities from all three levels of government maintain coordination of response and investigation actions.

However, Profepa personnel are on site to strengthen the technical work of inspection , surveillance and environmental assessment resulting from the spill of the hazardous material.

Preliminary reports indicate that the spill does not pose an immediate risk to the population. However, inspection procedures will continue to determine the extent of the environmental damage and, if necessary, order urgent measures and initiate appropriate legal and administrative actions in accordance with current environmental legislation.

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El cargo Profepa responds to chemical spill caused by Ferromex train derailment apareció primero en T21.

In the document “Railway Pulse: Operation and Safety January-December 2025” , the agency specified that 128.94 million tons were transported throughout 2025 compared to 132.78 million tons in 2024.

Of the total, foreign trade represented 76.3% and despite persistent tariff uncertainty, international traffic showed a growth of 2.4% in the January-December period of last year compared to 2024.

This progress was driven by an increase in imports and exports of 2.3% and 2.9%, respectively.

Of the total international traffic, imports represented 76.5% of the volume , with 75.36 million tons, while exports contributed 23.4%, with 23.03 million tons.

“In this environment, the border crossings of Nuevo Laredo and Piedras Negras consolidated their position as the main rail and land transport hubs between Mexico and the United States, concentrating 67.7% of imports and 63.9% of exports. Their relative weight confirms the strategic relevance of these routes in shaping bilateral trade,” ATTRAPI stated.

The ports of Veracruz and Manzanillo stood out as key rail receiving points for maritime cargo, accounting for 71.6% of imports transferred to this transport, mainly from Europe, Asia and South America .

Regarding exports, Guaymas and Mazatlán channeled 39.2% of the maritime volume moved by rail, “which underlines their role in the export of Mexican products to international markets.”

During that period, the main products transported were industrial products with 46.8% of the total cargo, agricultural products with 30.4%, and oil and its derivatives with 12.8 percent .

ATTRAPI indicated that from January to December 2025, Ferromex and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) of Mexico concentrated the majority volume of rail freight moved, with shares of 46.9% and 39.3%, respectively.

Grupo México ‘s subsidiary transported 60.52 million tons in 2025, representing a 3.1 percent year-on-year decrease. CPKC de México reached 50.68 million tons, a slight decline of 1.8 percent. Ferrosur moved 13.45 million tons, equivalent to 10.4% of the total, a 7.7% drop compared to 2024.

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El cargo Rail freight in Mexico, with “obstacles” on the track during 2025: ATTRAPI apareció primero en T21.

In an environment of uncertainty and global economic moderation, the Mexican Railway System (SFM) registered a 4.6% decrease in freight movement from January to September 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

According to statistics from the Agency of Trains and Integrated Public Transport (ATTRAPI) , 96.52 million tons were moved, while in the period compared it was 101.23 million tons.

“The results reflect the system’s adaptability and its strategic role in national and international logistics,” the organization stated.

He specified that the resilience and operational recovery of the rail system was reflected in the volume of loaded railcars transported. Between January and September 2025, 1,112,517 loaded railcars were transported.

“Although this performance represents an annual contraction, it is also noted that in the third quarter there was an increase of 3.6% compared to the first quarter, which suggests a gradual reactivation of rail freight transport,” he stressed.

The agency specified that foreign trade accounted for 76.07% of the total volume transported by rail. In this context, and despite persistent tariff uncertainty, it noted that international traffic showed a year-on-year growth of 1.6% compared to the same period in 2024. Meanwhile, domestic traffic fell by 20.4% .

Imports reached 55.91 million tons, which were distributed between land borders and seaports, while exports totaled 17.52 million tons, registering increases of 1.32% and 2.83%, respectively.

In this environment, the borders of Nuevo Laredo and Piedras Negras consolidated themselves as the main rail and land exchange nodes between Mexico and the United States, concentrating 67.1% of imports and 63.6% of exports.

On the other hand, the ports of Veracruz and Manzanillo stood out as key rail points for receiving maritime cargo , handling 70.2% of imports transferred to the rail network, primarily from Europe, Asia, and South America. Regarding exports, the ports of Guaymas and Mazatlán channeled 38.8% of the maritime volume moved by rail, “underscoring their role in the export of Mexican products to international markets.”

ATTRAPI highlighted that from January to September 2025, Ferromex and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) of Mexico concentrated the majority volume of rail freight moved, with shares of 46.7 and 39.7%, respectively.

During the period, Ferromex transported 45.08 million tons, representing a year-on-year decrease of 6.9%, while CPKC de México reached 38.3 million tons, with a slight decrease of 0.5%. Meanwhile, Ferrosur moved 10.04 million tons, with a drop of 10.2%.

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El cargo Rail freight in Mexico decreases from January to September 2025 apareció primero en T21.

STG Logistics Mexico will continue operating and will proceed with its growth plans for this year , following the filing for financial restructuring under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code by its parent company, STG Logistics.

“The numbers are positive in the United States from August to date, our numbers in Mexico are positive, and our financial strength is also strong. We have all the resources to operate in the country and we have no debt. We continue to grow, and our projects for 2026 are still underway in Mexico and the United States,” highlighted Javier Sánchez Terminel, the company’s vice president in the country.

In an interview with T21, he reiterated that in both countries the company has not stopped paying its suppliers, in addition to continuing to provide service to its customers.

He indicated that they will begin some initial contacts this Tuesday, while internally they will continue working to provide their services as the restructuring progresses, which he estimated could take place in the next five months .

“In five months we hope to turn all this around; by the end we will be in a completely different situation, having that restructuring, raising that money from investors who have confidence in us,” he said.

He mentioned that in Mexico the company has registered double-digit growth; in volume alone it increased by 21% year-on-year in 2025.

“The American market has been very restricted by domestic policies and the market contraction caused by cargo arriving from China. STG’s main business in the United States is different from that in Mexico. In the US, we are very focused on warehousing and receiving cargo from ports in maritime containers, which is deconsolidated, and a lot of cargo comes from Asia, specifically China, where tariffs have had a significant impact. In Mexico, we are focused on intermodal service, which is what has strengthened us. The domestic market continues to grow for us, and there are still many business opportunities,” he stated.

Javier Sánchez Terminel stated that they estimate growth of over 15% by 2026 , and are even analyzing new routes, since Ferromex has started a new route from Veracruz for 53-foot containers. “We are already working on that, to conduct tests in February. We continue working and hope to grow our business in Mexico.”

On January 12, STG Logistics announced that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States . Through the Restructuring Support Agreement (RSA), it seeks to reduce 91% of its debt and inject up to $150 million in new capital, aiming to support future growth and increase its liquidity.

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El cargo STG Logistics Mexico continues with operations and growth plans in 2026 apareció primero en T21.

The  Intermodal Association of South America (AIMAS) considered the possible arrival of Grupo México Transportes (GMXT) to Argentina to be positive, as it would attract other companies and boost intermodal transport  and its expansion in the region.

“What will save Argentina’s economy and railways will not be privatization itself, but the model that railway companies implement. The integrated North American railway model, plus the expansion proposed by AIMAS, in strong alliance with the region’s trucking (and shipping) industry, will have a positive impact on the entire region,” said Jorge de Mendonça, president of the organization.

In an interview with T21, he commented that the development of the railway industry in Argentina will also impact neighboring countries such as Brazil, Chile and other nations .

Federico Ignacio Weinhold, treasurer of AIMAS, reiterated that the railway in particular and the economy have a new opportunity for their rebirth.

“Seeking to assimilate and apply lessons learned from countries that seriously and sustainably improved their rail logistics, such as Mexico, the United States and Canada, with a particular emphasis on transparent, reliable and long-term regulatory frameworks, the right incentive system and incremental improvements, plus a commercial supply capacity that keeps pace with current and future demand, which is increasingly sophisticated across all sectors, sizes and locations of the economy,” he said.

For his part, Daniel Marcelo Campana, a railway and automotive technician at AIMAS, considered that Argentina has lost the capacity to audit the railway , so it will be necessary to create a regional authority similar to that of airplanes, such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) , where each local control authority must ensure compliance with international standards.

In that regard, he stressed that the regulations and processes must be those required by the region and not a simple licensed import from other continents.

Similarly, he explained that Ferromex’s proposed model of vertically integrated rail and intermodality represents a complete paradigm shift , which will generate resistance from business owners who profit from this transportation system by effectively disregarding its public service nature. “This resistance will manifest itself in angry, supposedly technical, opinions highlighting the impossibility of having a competitive railway in Argentina.”

Jorge de Mendonça offered the support and advice of the organization to companies that show interest in participating in the railway privatization process in Argentina .

He emphasized that what AIMAS proposes for Argentina and the region is the model that Ferromex is familiar with, so it will find interest among transporters, ports, universities and provinces, “people who are already paying attention, who are the ones to whom we have been suggesting the model for eight years.”

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El cargo Renaissance on rails: AIMAS celebrates possible arrival of GMXT to Argentina apareció primero en T21.

Union Pacific (UP) reported that Mexican crews have begun moving trains from a rail yard in Mexico to one near Eagle Pass, Texas, improving safety and reducing the time required for these types of maneuvers.

The railway company stated that this change, which began on November 20, reduces by 50% the time it takes to move trains across the international bridge compared to the previous method of changing personnel at that point.

“ This change improves crew safety, strengthens border security, and creates a smoother process at this key rail gateway . Interchanging trains within a secure rail yard is a proven method and allows us to operate more safely and efficiently,” said Eric Gehringer, UP Executive Vice President of Operations.

In this regard, Ferromex ‘s Mexican partner crews will now travel seven miles (approximately 11.2 kilometers) from the border to the nearby Eagle Pass yard , where they will be handed off to a U.S. crew. This follows their training and qualification by Union Pacific , including certification under Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) standards .

Meanwhile, the railroad’s employees will continue to manage all operations based in the United States, including incoming train control, railcar shunting, outgoing train construction, and service to local customers.

The company noted that prior to this updated process, personnel changes at Eagle Pass were conducted on the single-track international bridge, forcing trains to stop while crews disembarked and recrossed the structure. This process took between 30 and 40 minutes and increased the time a train remained idle at the site , increasing crew exposure and the risk of blocked level crossings, vandalism, theft, or other safety concerns.

“Moving the link to a controlled rail yard reduces these risks and allows for a safer and more efficient transition. Furthermore, seamless transshipments at the border improve the rail industry’s ability to compete and reduce truck traffic,” he emphasized.

He indicated that the updated procedure is part of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Federal Secure Corridor Initiative , as well as the results of the pilot project conducted earlier this year.

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El cargo Mexican crews move trains to UP yard in Eagle Pass apareció primero en T21.

From 2019 to 2025, intermodal transport in Mexico has registered an annual growth of 2.5%, even above the economy, although the challenge is to offer more routes to develop cross border , intra-Mexico and maritime transport .

Humberto Vargas, Chief Commercial Officer of Crossdock , said that security is one of the challenges of intermodal transport, and although the rates are lower, the incidents that occur must be addressed.

During Container Week , organized by the Mexican Intermodal Transport Association (AMTI) , it was revealed that the average annual growth for cross-border transport during this period is 5.1%, while maritime transport is 0.1%, and intra-Mexico transport is 28.5%.

“The 2.5% annual growth speaks volumes about the trust and solutions that users find in intermodal transport. This is something that has been worked on for the last 25 years to achieve, and it demonstrates the confidence that the logistics industry has in the solutions that railways offer,” he noted.

The specialist indicated that the industry’s participation in the maritime sector is 12% compared to 88% for road transport, in cross-border transport it is 6% compared to 94% for land transport, and in intra-Mexico transport it is 1.6% compared to 98.4%.

“The challenge for maritime intermodal transport lies in customs processes and the capacity of port and inland terminals. In cross-border transport, we see investments primarily from North American companies to consolidate this service offering, such as Hub Group with EASO and Matson. We see increased interest in developing it. The challenge is to facilitate the service. Intra-Mexico is a product that is in full development; we are hearing from Ferromex about new routes and more containers. Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) is already making efforts on the Mexico City-Monterrey-Nuevo Laredo route. We will see more,” he explained.

Hoshi Jurado, AVP Intermodal of Grupo México Transportes (GMXT) , highlighted that the railway company is analyzing how to promote intermodal transport from the ports and make the process easier. He also indicated that they are increasing their network for this mode of transport .

“The various intermodal terminals connect with almost all the strategic points of the country. Furthermore, in terms of sustainability, intermodal transport is one of the solutions, reducing emissions by 71%,” he stated.

For her part, Adriana Covarrubias, Senior Sales Manager for Intermodal Mexico at CPKC de México , pointed out that moving cargo by rail helps reduce road congestion and is an “efficient, agile, safe and environmentally responsible way to transport cargo.”

Humberto Vargas, who was also president of AMTI, considered that to have a greater boost in this form of transport it is necessary to approach the port community and understand the solutions that the railways offer, as well as the expansion to new markets, longer customs hours, standardization of operations, among others.

Meanwhile, Nashielly Escobedo, general director of the Latin American Confederation of Customs Agents (CLAA) , commented that the new Customs Law establishes challenges for all participants in the foreign trade supply chain.

“We have little time to implement the controls stipulated by law to prevent disruptions to cargo flow. Many of these controls, instead of helping us become more efficient, will reduce our competitiveness, but we must do our part to avoid negative impacts,” he emphasized.

He explained that with the proposed changes to domestic transit, customs brokers are expected to have to inspect merchandise at the point of entry for clearance purposes, which will impact the flow of goods. “This is quite concerning; it’s established in the new law that comes into effect on January 1st,” he noted.

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El cargo This is the annual growth of intermodal transport in Mexico from 2019 to 2025 apareció primero en T21.

Union Pacific (UP) has deemed the Green Eagle Railroad (GER) project unnecessary , stating that current capacity is sufficient to meet rail demand at Eagle Pass , the second busiest crossing between the United States and Mexico.

In submitting a document outlining a series of factors that would harm its operation due to this project to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) in the United States, following the publication of the environmental analysis for this new infrastructure, it indicated that the company’s request for exemption must be denied.

“The board should deny the petition filed by Green Eagle Railroad, requesting an exemption to construct and operate a new rail line. GER’s proposal is inconsistent with public convenience and necessity. There are significant questions about whether its operation would be less efficient and more costly than existing service, whether its operation would impair current services provided by Union Pacific and BNSF , and whether it is financially viable. The board should conclude that the additional information that would be provided in a complete application is required,” he argued.

It is worth remembering that GER, a subsidiary of Puerto Verde Holdings (PVH) , proposed the construction and operation of a second railway bridge between  Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras, approximately 1.3 miles (just over two kilometers) , which seeks to expedite trade between the United States and Mexico, as it would alleviate rail and truck congestion and reduce cross-border wait times, among other benefits.

The line would be a double-track rail corridor with no highway/rail grade crossings extending from the UP interchange near Clark’s Park Shipyard, crossing the Rio Grande on a newly constructed bridge, fully fenced, manned and patrolled by security personnel, and including a new vehicle roadway.

Union Pacific emphasized that together with BNSF , they move approximately 19 trains per day . At the border, they exchange traffic directly with Ferromex , which supports their cross-border operations from the Río Escondido yard, located approximately 9.9 miles south of the border.

The railroad announced it is working with Grupo México Transportes (GMXT) subsidiary to move cross-border crew changes from the bridge to the Clark’s Park yard , reducing the time trains spend on the bridge and improving safety, service, and capacity. It will also build a new track at the north end of the yard that would allow it to prepare southbound trains for northbound operations, improving operational flow.

“The northbound lead project is advancing in design, and construction could begin as early as 2026. Third, plans are being developed to extend its main track at the southern end of the Clark’s Park yard to complete a second main line to the border, allowing for two-way traffic. The double-track project is in the early planning stages, and if necessary to accommodate traffic growth, construction could begin in 2028,” he said.

He also stated that the bill would increase the number of carriers required to complete cross-border movements, and therefore their complexity and cost, but would not increase the number of independent routing options available to shippers.

“GER does not appear to have a viable plan to operate its proposed line without disrupting existing service offered by UP and BNSF. GER’s request does not address the practical problems that would arise from moving cross-border trains averaging 9,300 feet in length, while only 1,335 miles of new track would be built between the border and its connection to the Eagle Pass Subdivision,” he stated.

Noting a number of complications, UP said the additional work and congestion would increase transportation costs and reduce service quality, among other impacts .

“GER is not proposing to create an entirely new rail service option or a competitive alternative to existing rail services; it is simply proposing to insert an additional rail carrier into the existing cross-border routes of UP-Ferromex and BNSF-Ferromex,” he stated.

Last August, the STB’s Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) published and approved the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the GER project. The draft EIS analyzes the proposal’s impacts on its northern and southern rail alternatives, the latter being the best option and the one that would extend between the existing UP main line.

The Surface Transportation Board will now consider the merits of the transportation project and the entire environmental record, including the draft EIS, the final EIS, and all comments received, to make a final decision.

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El cargo Union Pacific deems second rail bridge at Eagle Pass unnecessary apareció primero en T21.

“There were incidents, but apparently an agreement was reached today. We know of some trucks detained at the Manzanillo customs office, but the state government was asking for a guarantee to release them, and that’s where they were stuck. At this point, this matter has been resolved,” a source said.

According to another source consulted by T21, Ferromex crew members are already on site conducting tests. “Everything is in preparation for track clearance . “

They confirmed that the parked tank trucks that could not be moved after the accident and due to the investigations, were carrying approximately 10 million liters of gasoline and diesel .

To date, no authorities have commented on the progress of the investigation into the incident that occurred on August 6 in Irapuato, which left at least six people dead and two injured.

At that time, the railroad company had announced that it would begin an investigation, together with the  Railway Transport Regulatory Agency (ARTF) and state and municipal authorities from Irapuato, Guanajuato.

The Guanajuato State Attorney General’s Office (FGEG) reported that the public prosecutor’s office has partially lifted the seizure of Ferromex’s assets and equipment “once the corresponding formalities have been completed,” which will allow the mobilization of the railway equipment involved.

“With this action, the train tracks have been cleared to allow the free passage of other railroads, thus ensuring the continuity of rail operations in the state,” he stated.

According to the agency, on August 10, Attorney General Gerardo Vázquez Alatriste, along with teams from the Public Ministry, traveled to the accident site to oversee security measures to prevent any potential contingencies.

Therefore, they established a surveillance and protection operation on the section to safeguard the integrity of the machines, cars, and their contents, in order to prevent criminal acts.

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El cargo Railroad track cleared in Irapuato; Ferromex begins testing for operation apareció primero en T21.