International Railroad Discussion > electrification in Mexico

About a week ago my wife and I were in passenger trainless Mexico driving north from Mexico City to Queretaro. We twice passed over rail lines that had been (or were about to be - it wasn't clear) electrified.

The caternary support arms were turned parallel to the track. No wire was present.

Were we seeing a previously electrified line(s) being dismantled or a new electrification being installed?

Any info from anyone who knows anything about this would be welcome.

Previously electrified, not sure if they ever finished it or not though.
Some of their units are on Black Mesa & Lake Powell in AZ, and Deseret Western in TU/CO.


TCS - more news to follow

Winnemucca Wrote:
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> Were we seeing a previously electrified line(s)
> being dismantled or a new electrification being
> installed?

It was intended that the electrification would extend from Mexico City to Irapuato, and eventually to Guadalajara. It was only completed to Queretaro. The line was put into operation, but soon after service started, they had two major collisions that killed a number of people, and destroyed something like six of the locomotives. Passenger service operated for a time, but was stopped.

When the rail operations were concessioned off, TFR got the line, and had to decide what to do with it. One problem was that the wire wasn't high enough for double stacks to operate under it, so it would at least have to have been raised. TFM decided the line was too short to be of value, so turned off the power, and removed the wire. The locomotives were sold for practically nothing, even though a number had never seen revenue service.

http://mexicanrailroads.blogspot.com/2008/08/ferromex-kcsm-quertaro-to-mexico-city.html

This line is the former FNM Linea A. Rebuilt in the 1980's on a completely new allignment, it was meant to be a highspeed freight corridor from MExico City northward. NdeM purchased E60C's for use on freight trains - but were rarely used for passenger service. The accidents were a result of signal problems, not the electrification.

Because of the timely locomotive changes required at Queretaro, many through freights ran deisel all the way into Mexico City.

The downfall ofthe electrification on Linea A was privatization. As was mentioned, TFM removed the lines from Huehuetoca to Queretaro to allow doublestack and autoracks clearances. From Huehuetoca to Buenavista, the wires were left in place for a future commuter train - which has just recently began running.

-Nate

This "Mexico City-Queretaro" double track and CTC project was smart, BUT the electrification was just the most stupid investment by the Mexican Government made in Mexican Railroads. A great example of badly spent money. First of all, they wanted to run fast electric freights, instead of passengers, didn't make any sense as double stacks already existed.

Back then, the double stacks were routed through the "B" line, now the Huichiapan Subdivision of Ferromex. This line was more mountainous, but handled heavy tonnage well.

The NdeM E60-C's were purchased in the late 70's, BEFORE THE LINE WAS EVEN UPGRADED AND ELECTRIFIED!! So they sat for storage in Salinas, SLP until the early 90's! to be used in the electrification, once put in service, they didn't last long, when TFM eventually took over.

Today, the Buenavista-Cuautitlan segment is the only one kept electrified by DF's commuter railroad, a good reason to use the catenary for, instead of freights having to exchange power on a close distance...

The Juarez-Morelos double tracks are now concessioned to KCSM, the "B" line to Ferromex.

Another set of tracks and/or alignment would have to be built for freight in order to re electrify the JUAREZ-MORELOS lines or another set for passenger, but it's tough to share both, and again, no way to run double stacks under wire.

SBC_1344 Wrote:
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>
and
> again, no way to run double stacks under wire.


Why?

The wire heights over many parts of the NEC are high enough to clear double-stacks. All you have to do is plan for it when determining the wire height.

And the distance also has to be appropriate....

ChS7-321 Wrote:
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> SBC_1344 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> and
> > again, no way to run double stacks under wire.
>
>
> Why?
>
> The wire heights over many parts of the NEC are
> high enough to clear double-stacks. All you have
> to do is plan for it when determining the wire
> height.
>
> And the distance also has to be appropriate....

No idea :-O