Trips to see HST in Mexico/Nigeria

[PudseyBearHST]

Has anyone been to visit or ride the HSTs in Nigeria and Mexico? Do you have any sort of itinerary’s you could recommend and any other tips or useful information?
Thanks

 

[Jamesrob637]

@yorkie and @Watershed both went to Mexico this year but luck wasn't on their side. There may be further reports of the trip somewhere on here.

 

[PudseyBearHST]

@yorkie and @Watershed both went to Mexico this year but luck wasn't on their side. There may be further reports of the trip somewhere on here.

Appreciate the reply.

 

[RailExplorer]

Has anyone been to visit or ride the HSTs in Nigeria and Mexico? Do you have any sort of itinerary’s you could recommend and any other tips or useful information?
Thanks

Had planned to go to Mexico in October. I needed to plan 4 weeks in advance and at that point, HSTs weren't running so decided to postpone.

I had Nigeria pencilled in for January, but after talking more with one of the senior ops guys over there, I've delayed that trip too.

Both now planned for spring 2025 (along with a dozen other trips).

 

[PudseyBearHST]

Had planned to go to Mexico in October. I needed to plan 4 weeks in advance and at that point, HSTs weren't running so decided to postpone.

I had Nigeria pencilled in for January, but after talking more with one of the senior ops guys over there, I've delayed that trip too.

Both now planned for spring 2025 (along with a dozen other trips).

Thanks for the reply. Do let me know how it goes (or ping me if you a create trip report please )

 

[RailExplorer]

Thanks for the reply. Do let me know how it goes (or ping me if you a create trip report please )

I'm sure you'll see my photos pop up somewhere if I do make it and I'll try to remember to post something on this forum to point people in the right direction for more info/photos. Still trying to figure out what to do with my 3 weeks I have off work in January. Watching Mexico carefully. Although the HSTs have once again vanished over there.

 

[Rich the Eagle]

Tren Interoceánico, Mexico – HST Trip Report

Today I travelled on the Tren Interoceánico between Coatzacoalcos and Pakal Ná (Palenque) on Line FA by Intercity 125 HST.

The Tren Interoceánico project comprises of 3 routes in southern Mexico that will connect the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and Guatamala. The $1BN project involves rehabilitating and reopening approximately 670 miles of railway and is being done at a pace that is almost alien to those familiar with projects in the UK.

Currently Line FA and Line Z have passenger trains, Line K is due to commence operations some time in 2025.

 

[Rich the Eagle]

Information, Timetables and Booking

The Tren Interoceánico website can be found at https://www.pasajerosinteroceanico.com.mx/. While it is Spanish only, it is modern and easy to use. If like me your Spanish is pretty basic, Google Translate can be used to double-check you’ve understood everything correctly. While I recommend booking online in advance, tickets can also be booked at the station.

Timetable information is posted under Noticias. Currently only information up until 15th December is available. The HST is doing one round trip a week on Line FA, while the “American Train” is running two round trips a week on Line Z.

 

[Rich the Eagle]

Sample Itinerary

To travel the entire Tren Interoceánico network, it takes a minimum of 2 days in one direction and 4 going both ways.

Thursday – 8am Coatzacoalcos to Salina Cruz (188 miles) – “American Train”, 7h 14m
Friday – 8am Salina Cruz to Coatzacoalcos (188 miles) – “American Train”, 7h 13m
Saturday – 7am Coatzacoalcos - Pakal Ná (205 miles) – HST, 7 hr
Sunday – 2pm Pakal Ná - Coatzacoalcos (205 miles) – HST, 7 hr 20m

Another option is to drop the Sunday HST trip and take Tren Maya (https://rutatrenmaya.com/) from Palenque (different station, approx. 3 miles away) direct to Cancun Airport.

If there isn’t a convenient train scheduled, all the towns and cities are served by relatively comfortable intercity buses. ADO is the main provider, book at https://www.ado.com.mx/

 

[Rich the Eagle]

How do I know if my train is a HST?

On the 2nd page of the booking process the website will show you a seat map. If the layout shows 2+2 seating and tables in a familiar Mark 3 layout, you’ll know it’s a HST. Another sign is seeing 2+1 seating and tables in First Class (“Ejecutiva”). Do not worry about seeing a low number of carriages available, the HST is currently running with additional carriages unreserved / out of use.

If the seating layout is 2+2 with no tables in both classes, this indicates you’ll be on the American train.

A final confirmation that you are on a HST can be found after booking by looking at the carriage “FIT” number and checking it against known information on this site.

 

[Rich the Eagle]

On the day

I recommend you show up at the station 15-30 minutes before departure as there are a couple of ticket / ID checks and security screening to pass through. It will also give you time to look at the train from the platform.

The train is heavily guarded by soldiers, marines (with machine guns!) and security staff and they do not appreciate you straying outside the clearly marked passenger areas. Photography may possibly be forbidden but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

 

[Rich the Eagle]

On board

The formation being used on 30th Nov / 1st Dec was certainly interesting and very different to what we are used to in the UK. In order from front to back:

FIT-3007 – ex-GWR Power car 43170
FIT-161109 – ex-LNER TRFK (seating half leading)
FIT-161103 – ex-LNER TF
FIT-161104 – ex-LNER TF
FIT-161204 – ex-LNER TGS (guard’s compartment leading)
FIT-161205 – ex-LNER TGS (guard’s compartment leading)
FIT-161206 – ex-LNER TGS (guard’s compartment leading)
FIT-3008 – ex-GWR Power car 43022

Apart from additional notices in Spanish, “American” power sockets and the removal of the LNER insignias from the first-class seats, the interior is pretty much as it was the day the trains were withdrawn from UK service.

Moving around the train is discouraged although the rules are relaxed for First (“Ejecutivo”) class passengers going to the buffet car. Just like in the UK, the TGS guard’s compartments are off-limits. Standard (“Turista”) class passengers were effectively confined to one TGS carriage with refreshments provided via a trolley service. One big no-no is lowering the door droplights and leaning out of the windows except in stations – the central door locking system on my train was inoperative meaning that the yellow exterior lights stayed on throughout the journey!

My advice is to be relaxed about photographing the interior of the train as the trip is 7 hours long. If your Spanish / Google Translate skills are up to it, try and engage the many friendly staff members in conversation – they are usually intrigued about the train’s prior history in the UK. By building a rapport and behaving respectfully, requests to see other parts of the train will generally be received favorably.

 

[Rich the Eagle]

The future

The second shipment of HST stock has arrived as more power cars and Mark 3 carriages were apparent in the yard at Coatzacoalcos. Spotted was an ex-CrossCountry TS (42036) and ex-GWR purple liveried TFs and TSs. The staff were clearly aware that they would seeing ex-GWR first class seats on their trains soon. One even showed me a picture of ex-CrossCountry power car 43378 being unloaded from the ship.

Blue & grey livered ex-CrossCounty power car 43007 is still in the yard, having suffered damage to the lower portion of its cab in a level crossing accident in May.

Note that the railway is assigning new “FIT” numbers by type of rolling stock and not class or even country of origin. The system is known to be:

FIT-100x – ex-Puebla Stadler CityLink trams
FIT-30xx – any locomotive / power car
FIT-1611xx – any carriage with 2+1 seating (including HST buffet cars)
FIT-1612xx – any carriage with 2+2 seating

 

[Rich the Eagle]

In Conclusion

Shortly after departure it is apparent that, despite being thousands of miles away from home, the HSTs still have all the features that make it such a great train. The Mark 3s ride very well on the newly upgraded Mexican track and the interior is calm and relaxed. The MAN engines sound great indicating they are clearly being looked after by the Mexican fitters, of which there were 3 on the train.

If you include the “American Train” and Tren Maya, it’s now possible to spend the best part of a week travelling round southern Mexico (a generally safe and beautiful part of the country) by train. I fully recommend it!

 

[Towers]

Super posts - thank you, @Rich the Eagle

 

[PudseyBearHST]

@Rich the Eagle Wow, thanks for a fantastic and detailed write up with some great pictures!