Mexico vows to complete interoceanic corridor this year

The Mexican government is seeking to complete a 213km section of the 300km Tehuantepec isthmus rail corridor this year, even though progress has not reached 70%. 

Also known as line Z, the work comprises five stretches and progress currently stands at 64.4%, according to Tehuantepec isthmus railway (FIT) director José Sánchez Pérez, who participated in Exporail 2022 in Mexico City. 

At the end of December, the entity in charge of the interoceanic corridor reported 66% progress, suggesting that the project has either not moved forward or the figures are outdated. 

A presentation given by Sánchez shows that stretches 1 and 4 between Medias Aguas and Ubero (Veracruz-Oaxaca states) and between La Mata and Colonia Jordán (Oaxaca) have progressed the most, at 86% and 95%, respectively. 

“Line Z will be completed this year,” said Sánchez, adding that the overall project will be finished next year. 

The 20bn-peso (US$1bn) interoceanic corridor is designed to create a logistics platform between Salina Cruz port in Oaxaca state on the Pacific coast and Coatzacoalcos port in Veracruz on the Gulf of Mexico to compete with the Panama Canal.

Progress of Line Z shown by FIT during Exporail 2022