The long-awaited suburban train connecting Mexico City to the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) officially opened on Sunday, April 26, 2026, after multiple delays spanning over three years.
President Claudia Sheinbaum inaugurated the new 41-kilometer extension from the Lechería station to the AIFA terminal, completing a journey from Buenavista station in downtown Mexico City in approximately one hour. Authorities expect travel time to reduce to 45 minutes once the system is fully adapted.
“Today we can say: mission accomplished. We have kept our promise to the people of Mexico,” Sheinbaum said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the AIFA station.
The Suburban Train is especially important as ride-sharing services are not allowed into the AIFA, and drivers do not dare break the rules, as the airport is within a larger military facility.
Construction Timeline and Delays
Construction of the missing segment began in 2021 and was originally scheduled for completion in 2023. The project faced significant setbacks primarily because the government did not have the necessary rights-of-way for the train passage.
The extension was initially managed by a private concessionaire, the construction firm CAF. In February 2025, Sheinbaum transferred responsibility for the project to the Mexican Army’s engineering corps, which has become the most trusted construction entity for the current administration.
“The concessionaire had plenty of time to develop it. In agreement with them, we transferred the work to military engineers, and now it has impressive progress,” Sheinbaum said when announcing the transfer.
Route and Service Details
The new line extends from Lechería station, which was previously the terminus of Suburban Train Line 1. Six new stations were built to connect to the airport: Cueyamil, La Loma, Teyahualco, Prado Sur, Cajiga, Xaltocán, and AIFA.
The full route from Buenavista includes 12 stations covering approximately 23.7 kilometers of new track. The system will operate with 10 trains, each consisting of five cars with a capacity for 719 passengers.
Operating hours run from 5:00 AM to 12:30 AM on weekdays, with later openings on weekends.
During the first month of operations, the complete trip from Buenavista to AIFA costs 45 pesos. Intermediate trips maintain existing Suburban Train rates: 11.50 pesos for short trips and 26.50 pesos for journeys between 12.9 and 25.6 kilometers.
Solving a Critical Transportation Problem
The lack of infrastructure to reach AIFA had discouraged use of the airport, which has struggled with low passenger traffic since its construction under former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Previously, travelers faced journeys of up to two and a half hours by alternate routes or paid high fares for ride-hailing taxis.
The new train service arrives directly at an underground station inside the airport terminal, allowing passengers to walk upstairs and check their luggage.
Future Expansion
The federal government plans to extend Line 1 to Pachuca, the capital of Hidalgo state, in the future. Officials attended the inauguration, including Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada, State of Mexico Governor Delfina Gómez, and Hidalgo Governor Julio Menchaca.
“The Suburban Train is the people’s train of Mexico,” Sheinbaum said, highlighting her administration’s plan to rescue passenger train service throughout the country. “It’s the possibility for Mexicans, at accessible prices and on the best possible transport, to be able to move throughout the country.”