Ferromex (syllabic abbreviation of Ferrocarril Mexicano, 'Mexican Railway') is a private rail consortium that operates the largest (by mileage) railway in Mexico with combined mileage (Ferromex + Ferrosur) of and is often classed with Class I railroads.
History
Ferromex began operating on February 19, 1998, following the privatization of most of the government-owned railways by Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León. Ferromex operates more than of track and interconnects five major inland Mexican cities, five cities along the border with the
United States, four seaports on the
Pacific Ocean, and one more on the Gulf of Mexico. Grupo México owns 74%
and Union Pacific Corporation owns 26% of the company.
The Ferromex system operates 9,610 km of Ferromex tracks plus of Ferrosur tracks.
Attempted merger with Ferrosur
In November 2005, Grupo México, the majority owner of Ferromex, purchased Infraestructura y Transportes Ferroviarios, the parent company of
Ferrosur, another of Mexico's Class I railroads, in a stock transaction.
[FWN Select, "Grupo Mexico Buys Ferrosur Railway From Carso" (Nov. 25, 2005)] The Mexican Federal Competition Commission (CFC) had rejected a proposed 2002 merger of Ferromex and Ferrosur amid opposition from Ferromex competitor Grupo Transportación Ferroviaria Mexicana (TFM).
[FWN Select, "Mexico's Antitrust Agency To Study Railway Merger" (Nov. 28, 2005)]
Following the November 2005 purchase of Ferrosur by Grupo México, Kansas City Southern de México (KCSM), successor to TFM, petitioned the Mexican government to block the merger of Ferrosur and Ferromex. The CFC rejected the merger in June 2006 and stated that the merger would have led to excessive concentration in the railway industry to the detriment of consumers and competing shippers.[FWN Select, "Mexico's Antitrust Commission Rejects Rail Merger Appeal" (Nov. 15, 2006)] However, in March 2011, a tribunal ruled in Grupo México's favor, and the merger was permitted.
Passenger services
Ferromex hosts the Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico "ChePe" railroad, a tourist line that runs through the
Copper Canyon. Ferromex also operates the
Tequila Express, which runs from
Guadalajara to a
tequila distillery in Amatitán.
Other
Grupo México Transportes, with Fundación Grupo México, operates Dr. Vagón, a
hospital train that offers free, complete healthcare for hard to reach communities in Mexico.
[ Dr. Vagon]
Rolling stock
In January 2011, Ferromex ordered 44 new SD70ACe locomotives from EMD, its first order since 2006.
File:FXE4050 CPEmerson.jpg|FXE 4050 in Winnipeg, Manitoba on the CPKC Railway Emerson Subdivision
File:FerromexCarInBoltonON.png|A Ferromex-branded autorack owned by TTX Company in Bolton, Ontario
See also
-
Chihuahua al Pacífico
-
List of Mexican railroads
-
Rail transport in Mexico
-
Tequila Express
External links
