Ferromex
Encyclopedia
Ferromex (a contraction of Ferrocarril Mexicano or "Mexican Railroad") is a private rail consortium that operates the largest (by mileage) railroad in Mexico
.
Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon. The Ferromex system operates more than 8500 kilometres (5,281.7 mi) of track and interconnects five major inland Mexican cities, five cities along the border with the United States
, four seaports on the Pacific Ocean
and one more on the Gulf of Mexico
. Currently, Grupo Mexico
owns 74% and Union Pacific 26% of the company.
"ChePe" railroad, on which operates a tourist line that runs through the Copper Canyon
. Ferromex also operates the Tequila Express
which runs from Guadalajara, Jalisco
to a tequila
refinery in Amatitán
, Jalisco
.
, owner of Ferromex purchased Infraestructura y Transportes Ferroviarios, the parent company of Ferrosur, another of Mexico's Class I railroads, in a US$309 million stock transaction. The Mexican Federal Competition Commission (CFC) had rejected a proposed 2002 merger of Ferromex and Ferrosur amid opposition from Ferromex competitor, Grupo Transportación Ferroviaria Mexicana
(TFM).
Following the November 2005 purchase of Ferrosur by Grupo Mexico, Kansas City Southern de México (KCSM), successor to TFM, petitioned the Mexican government to block the merger of Ferrosur and Ferromex. The CFC rejected the merger in June 2006 stating that the merger would have led to excessive concentration in the railroad industry to the detriment of consumers and competing shippers. However, in March 2011, a tribunal ruled in Grupo Mexico's favor, and the merger was permitted.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Description
Ferromex began operating on February 19, 1998, following the privatization of most of the government-owned railroads by then President of MexicoPresident of Mexico
The President of the United Mexican States is the head of state and government of Mexico. Under the Constitution, the president is also the Supreme Commander of the Mexican armed forces...
Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon. The Ferromex system operates more than 8500 kilometres (5,281.7 mi) of track and interconnects five major inland Mexican cities, five cities along the border with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, four seaports on the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
and one more on the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
. Currently, Grupo Mexico
Grupo México
Grupo México is the largest mining corporation in Mexico and the third largest copper producer in the world.Ferrocarril Mexicano , the company's rail transport division, operates the nation's largest rail fleet.-History:...
owns 74% and Union Pacific 26% of the company.
Passenger Services
Ferromex hosts the Chihuahua al PacíficoChihuahua al Pacífico
The Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico , also known as El Chepe from its reporting mark CHP, or Ferrocarril Chihuahua-Pacífico is a major rail line in northwest Mexico, linking the city of Chihuahua, Chihuahua, to the city of Los Mochis, Sinaloa and its port Topolobampo...
"ChePe" railroad, on which operates a tourist line that runs through the Copper Canyon
Copper Canyon
Copper Canyon is a group of canyons consisting of six distinct canyons in the Sierra Tarahumara in the southwestern part of the state of Chihuahua in Mexico...
. Ferromex also operates the Tequila Express
Tequila Express
The Tequila Express is a Mexican regional train service that operates from Guadalajara, Jalisco, to the Tequila Herradura distillery at the San José del Refugio Hacienda in the municipality of Amatitán, Jalisco. Amatitán is approximately northwest of Guadalajara and southeast of the town of...
which runs from Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara is the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is located in the central region of Jalisco in the western-pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,564,514 it is Mexico's second most populous municipality...
to a tequila
Tequila
Tequila is a spirit made from the blue agave plant, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila, northwest of Guadalajara, and in the highlands of the western Mexican state of Jalisco....
refinery in Amatitán
Amatitan
Amatitán is the head of a municipality in the Mexican state of Jalisco, and is home to one of the world's largest tequila distilleries....
, Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
.
Merger with Ferrosur
In November 2005, Grupo MexicoGrupo México
Grupo México is the largest mining corporation in Mexico and the third largest copper producer in the world.Ferrocarril Mexicano , the company's rail transport division, operates the nation's largest rail fleet.-History:...
, owner of Ferromex purchased Infraestructura y Transportes Ferroviarios, the parent company of Ferrosur, another of Mexico's Class I railroads, in a US$309 million stock transaction. The Mexican Federal Competition Commission (CFC) had rejected a proposed 2002 merger of Ferromex and Ferrosur amid opposition from Ferromex competitor, Grupo Transportación Ferroviaria Mexicana
Grupo Transportación Ferroviaria Mexicana
Kansas City Southern de México , formerly Transportación Ferroviaria Mexicana , is the name of a company dedicated to freight transportation using rail in the North Eastern part of Mexico...
(TFM).
Following the November 2005 purchase of Ferrosur by Grupo Mexico, Kansas City Southern de México (KCSM), successor to TFM, petitioned the Mexican government to block the merger of Ferrosur and Ferromex. The CFC rejected the merger in June 2006 stating that the merger would have led to excessive concentration in the railroad industry to the detriment of consumers and competing shippers. However, in March 2011, a tribunal ruled in Grupo Mexico's favor, and the merger was permitted.
Rolling stock
In January 2011, Ferromex ordered 44 locomotives from EMD, its first order since 2006.See also
- Rail transport in MexicoRail transport in MexicoMexico has a freight railway system that is privately owned and extends across most of the country, connecting major industrial centers with ports and with rail connections at the United States border...
- List of Mexican railroads
- Chihuahua al PacificoChihuahua al PacíficoThe Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico , also known as El Chepe from its reporting mark CHP, or Ferrocarril Chihuahua-Pacífico is a major rail line in northwest Mexico, linking the city of Chihuahua, Chihuahua, to the city of Los Mochis, Sinaloa and its port Topolobampo...
- Tequila ExpressTequila ExpressThe Tequila Express is a Mexican regional train service that operates from Guadalajara, Jalisco, to the Tequila Herradura distillery at the San José del Refugio Hacienda in the municipality of Amatitán, Jalisco. Amatitán is approximately northwest of Guadalajara and southeast of the town of...