HSTs in Mexico - news and progress updates

[HST2FIT]

The FA line, from Coatzacoalcos Veracruz to Palenque Chiapas just reopened. The HST (FIT 2+5) is running on the line. Same as the Z line, one train per day in each direction.

The American train is running on the Z line, between Coatzacoalcos and Salina Cruz.

 

[Watershed]

The FA line, from Coatzacoalcos Veracruz to Palenque Chiapas just reopened. The HST (FIT 2+5) is running on the line. Same as the Z line, one train per day in each direction.

The American train is running on the Z line, between Coatzacoalcos and Salina Cruz.

Do you know where the station is in Palenque? Is it the same one as the Tren Maya uses?

Absolutely gutted that HSTs are now in use on this route, a mere 3 weeks after I visited...

 

[HST2FIT]

Do you know where the station is in Palenque? Is it the same one as the Tren Maya uses?

Absolutely gutted that HSTs are now in use on this route, a mere 3 weeks after I visited...

What a pity,
The FIT station is in PAKALNA, northern Palenque.
The Mayan Train station is in LA PRIMAVERA, 2.8 km away.


.

 

[Watershed]

What a pity,
The FIT station is in PAKALNA, northern Palenque.
The Mayan Train station is in LA PRIMAVERA, 2.8 km away.


.

Thank you, this information often isn't easy to find online!

 

[ainsworth74]

Opened for @superalbs to update

 

[superalbs]

An HST set formed of FIT3011 and FIT3014, and a rake of sliding door Mk3s has recently been sent to Tonalá and Arriaga on the presently unopened Line K. Hopefully this will further expand the operation of HSTs in Mexico.

 

[StephenHunter]

An HST set formed of FIT3011 and FIT3014, and a rake of sliding door Mk3s has recently been sent to Tonalá and Arriaga on the presently unopened Line K. Hopefully this will further expand the operation of HSTs in Mexico.

Sliding door Mark 3s? Where are those from?

 

[trainswitheddy]

Sliding door Mark 3s? Where are those from?

XC? Didn't a ship go over some months ago now?

 

[superalbs]

Yeah I believe it's the XC ones. The consist was a first class car and second class car with sliding doors. And then a buffet, presumably from LNER.

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

At 22:57 in this Simply Railway video you can see two Cross Country sliding door cars in a siding at Coatzcoalcos, along with other Mk3s and HST power cars. Some sliding door cars were already in FIT livery.

The website of Romic, the company that is exporting HSTs to Mexico and Nigeria, shows Cross Country sliding door Mk3s.

Standard gauge high speed passenger coaches for sale

Details of Mk3 air conditioned standard gauge passenger coaches for sale by ROMIC Group.

www.romicgroup.com

 

[stadler]

How many 43s and how many MK3s are in Mexico currently? Does anyone have a list as i have lost track of what has ended up where?

 

[43096]

How many 43s and how many MK3s are in Mexico currently? Does anyone have a list as i have lost track of what has ended up where?

18 power cars and 39 trailers by my reckoning.

 

[stadler]

18 power cars and 39 trailers by my reckoning.

Thank you for the information. That is much more than i thought. I am surprised that they need so many as the service is not very frequent and it is not a particularly large complex network. Unless perhaps there is a massive increase in service frequency planned.

 

[Chriso]

Are all these New Mexican services popular or a white elephant ?

 

[superalbs]

18 power cars and 39 trailers by my reckoning.

Such a comically large fleet to run a train every week.

 

[ainsworth74]

Such a comically large fleet to run a train every week.

Guess their availability requirement must be about 1%

 

[AdamWW]

Guess their availability requirement must be about 1%

Maybe the idea is that every time one hits a car on a level crossing they chuck it away and get a new one out?

 

[ainsworth74]

Maybe the idea is that every time one hits a car on a level crossing they chuck it away and get a new one out?

You know I'm starting to think that this "throw away" society lark might have gone too far if we're treating trains as being disposable assets

 

[Sun Chariot]

Talking of which, was 43007 (the one that had a fracas with a poorly driven car, soon after arriving in Mexico) repaired?

 

[43096]

Talking of which, was 43007 (the one that had a fracas with a poorly driven car, soon after arriving in Mexico) repaired?

It was in service last week.

 

[Sun Chariot]

It was in service last week.

Nice one, many thanks

 

[superalbs]

It was in service last week.

What livery does it carry now?

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

An HST set formed of FIT3011 and FIT3014, and a rake of sliding door Mk3s has recently been sent to Tonalá and Arriaga on the presently unopened Line K.

This video has clips of the set, including one right at the beginning.

On June 16, 2025, the first technical test of the Interoceanic Train was successfully conducted on Line K, traveling the section between Ixtepec (Oaxaca) and Arriaga (Chiapas), with stops in Juchitán and Unión Hidalgo. The FIT 3014 locomotive led the journey, supervised by the Ministry of the Navy as part of the validation process for the rehabilitated rail system.

The first commercial trip is scheduled for July 5, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum. Line K, extending more than 470 km to Ciudad Hidalgo (border with Guatemala), will strengthen regional integration with Central America. The test generated significant local interest and received additional technical support as far away as Tonalá.

This progress is part of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec Interoceanic Corridor, which seeks to connect the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and boost economic development in southeastern Mexico. Lines Z (Coatzacoalcos–Salina Cruz) and FA (Coatzacoalcos–Palenque) are currently operating. Line K consolidates one of the country's most important railway projects, scheduled for completion in 2026.

 

[superalbs]

FIT3009 has had a major crash in Tabasco, Mexico.

 

[ainsworth74]

Another level crossing crash it looks like? Hope the drivers okay those HST cabs aren't the most solid constructions going!

 

[Sun Chariot]

FIT3009 has had a major crash in Tabasco, Mexico.
View attachment 183508

Thank goodness it looks like it pushed the lorry trailer round and took the brunt on the right hand cab corner, rather than a head on impact.
With 43007's shunt of an inattentively driven SUV at the start of this year, I wonder how this line's incident rate compares with other lnes in Mexico?

 

[fgwrich]

FIT3009 has had a major crash in Tabasco, Mexico.
View attachment 183508

43158 in old money.

 

[XCTurbostar]

Probably not at speed either. Looks like less than 20MPH given the stopping distance

 

[superalbs]

One minor leg injury apparently.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Jul 2025 ==

43158 in old money.

Others saying it was 43207, which seems to match with the EC style windows on the cab door.

 

[fgwrich]

One minor leg injury apparently.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Jul 2025 ==


Others saying it was 43207, which seems to match with the EC style windows on the cab door.

Indeed, apologies, i couldn’t see the EC cab windows at first. We really do need to create a list of what has become what, it’s not easy given they seem to have reverted to these FIT numbers.