Mexico City Metro Line 12 Extension Faces Delays in Train Acquisition

While the expansion of Mexico City's Metro Line 12 towards Observatorio continues, the crucial project to acquire 12 additional trains for this segment is currently at a standstill. This lack of progress is highlighted in the First Quarterly Report on the Advancement of the Metro Improvement Program 2026, which was recently submitted to the Congress of Mexico City.

The report explicitly states that the project for acquiring the 12 trains, which would bring the total to 42 units, "has not had any progress." It notes that the development of this project is contingent on the allocation of resources, which have already been requested from the Finance Directorate. Technical specifications for improved train designs have undergone review by the Rolling Stock Engineering Management.

These new trains are intended to provide service on the extended Line 12, running from Tláhuac to Observatorio. This expansion is expected to benefit a significant population residing in the boroughs of Tláhuac, Iztapalapa, Coyoacán, Benito Juárez, Xochimilco, and Alvaro Obregón. The 12 new trains will be of the rail-running type, each with seven cars and equipped with recent technology, designed for a minimum service life of 30 years. They must be capable of operating in various conditions, including tunnels, open air, at surface level, or elevated, and withstand Mexico City's prevailing environmental conditions, covering an estimated 150,000 kilometers annually per train.