El Tren Suburbano (The Suburban Train), Mexico City, is a commuter train which runs from Buenavista to Cuautitlán.
The Tren Suburbano was inaugurated on June 2 2008. it is designated as a commuter train. It has no real practical use for the tourist visiting Mexico City, that is, until the extension to the AIFA Airport at Felipe Angeles is completed.
I have previously written posts about the Metro, Metrobus, Tren Ligero, Trolleybus, and Cablebus, all of which are covered in my detailed guide to using Public Transportation in CDMX, so be sure to check those articles out.
For fun and informational purposes for the blog, I rode it from Buenavista to Cuautitlán.
Tren Suburbano Stations:
There are 7 stations:
- Buenavista
- Fortuna
- Tlalnepantla
- San Rafael
- Lechería
- Tultitlán
- Cuautitlán
Like the stations on the Metro, each station has its own unique symbol, a concept created when Mexico’s literacy rate was low.
Mapa Tren Suburbano – From Buenavista (Mexico City) to Cuatitlán (Estado de México):
The line is 27 kilometres in length.
A second line, linking Lechería to the new Felipe Ángeles International Airport in Zumpango, is under construction, but the project is hopelessly delayed. The latest update is that it will be in operation by the end of July 2025, so until then, you’ll need a take a bus.
Here is a promotional map (Mapa de Ruta ampliación AIFA) for the with the link to the AIFA airport:
How to Buy Tickets for the Tren Suburbano:
You need to buy a rechargeable Tarjeta del Suburbano, which costs 18 pesos, from the ‘taquilla’, ticket office, or ticket machine, and then top it up.
There are machines for ‘Venta y Recarga de Tarjetas’, for buying and topping up:
And there are machines ‘Solo Recarga de Tarjetas’, just for topping up:
The fares are based on the number of kilometres travelled:
Viaje Corto 0 km – 12.89 km 11 pesos
Viaje Largo 12.9 km – 25.59 km 25.50 Pesos
Here are the fares between each stop (correct as of July 2025:
The Tren Suburbano operates as follows:
Monday to Friday: 05:00 to 00:30
Saturdays: 06:00 to 00:30
Sunday and holidays: 07:00 to 00:30
Journey time from Buenavista to Cuautitlán is 25 minutes.
In comparison to the Metro, it is quite expensive and for those who need to ride the Tren Suburbano, the stations are not always so conveniently located, thus needing a microbus (or taxi) to get nearer to their final destination.
The Tren Suburbano at Buenavista station:
Arriving back in Buenavista:
Advertising the Tren Suburbano app:
At Cuautitlán station before going back to Buenavista:
The minivan station at Cuautitlán:
Cuautitlán station in Estado de México:
Cuautitlán, this train terminates here, all change please, all change:
The last station on Line 1 of the Tren Suburbano is Cuautitlan, which links Mexico City to Estado de México:
History:
The Buenavista Railway Station opened in 1873, served as Mexico City’s terminus station, with the first passenger trip being Mexico City to Veracruz, operated under Ferrocarriles Nacionales de Mexico (N de M) and later FNM until 2005.
The station served many cities including Cuernavaca, Guadalajara, Veracruz, Monterrey and Mérida.
The original station was demolished in 1958, and the present building, reopened in 1958 by the then President, Adolfo López Mateos.
The TCC Teziutlan Copper Co. No.2 outside the Buenavista Station:
