• CHANGES: Years behind schedule, the rail link between Mexico City and Mexico State capital Toluca, will see more changes to its master plan with the addition of at least one more station and one more bridge in Mexico City that will increase its cost, the Mexican government said.
• MEXICO CITY: Originally planned to start operations in 2017, the 58-mile long commuter train was a landmark project of the previous Peña Nieto Administration, which incurred in multiple cost overruns and delays; the López Obrador Administration says the train will be ready in 2022.
• IMPACT: “Without a doubt, this type of bridge that (Mexico City) is asking us to build will have an impact on the cost (of the train), which has yet to be determined”, said Manuel Gómez Parra, rail development chief at Mexico’s Ministry of Communications and Transport.
• COSTS: Construction of the intercity line Mexico City-Toluca has cost the Mexican taxpayers US 3.2 billion. The López Obrador Administration said last year that before the new additions, the total cost would be US 4.8 billion and that they were looking to get the private sector on board.