Texas Mexican Railway International Bridge

Texas Mexican Railway International Bridge
Coordinates	27.498550°N 99.516336°W / 27.498550; -99.516336
Carries	Trains
Crosses	Rio Grande
Locale	Laredo, Texas – Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas
Official name	Texas Mexican Railway International Bridge
Other name(s)	Laredo International Railway Bridge
Maintained by	Kansas City Southern Railway Kansas City Southern de México
Characteristics
Design	Truss Bridge
Total length	1275 ft (389 m)
Width	18 ft (5.5 m)
History
Opened	1920
Location

The Texas Mexican Railway International Bridge is the only railway international bridge that crosses the U.S.-Mexico border between the cities of Laredo, Texas, and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas. It is owned and operated by Texas Mexican Railway (KCS) and Kansas City Southern de México. It is also known as the Laredo International Railway Bridge and Puente Negro (The Black Bridge).

History

On January 1, 2005, Kansas City Southern (KCS) took control of The Texas Mexican Railway Company and the U.S. portion of the International Bridge in Laredo, Texas. The railroad is a vital link in KCS's rail network, connecting The KCS and TFM, S.A. de C.V.

Location

On the U.S. side the Bridge is located in the western termini of the Texas-Mexican Railway in Laredo, Texas. In Mexico it is located in the northern termini of the Kansas City Southern Railway in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas.

Future

When the Laredo International Railway Bridge 2 is completed the Texas-Mexican Railway International Bridge will be converted to either a northbound express lane for trailers and buses, or a railroad track for passenger trains.

Aerial View

The full length of the Texas-Mexican Railway International Bridge.

Ground View

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  View of the Tex-Mex Rail Bridge from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas
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  View of the Tex-Mex Rail Bridge from Laredo, Texas