Ferrovalle deploys INFORM AI for Smart Yard automation at Mexico City rail hub

INFORM announced on September 15, 2026, that rail freight operator Ferrovalle has selected its Syncrotess Optimization Plus software to run a Smart Yard automation initiative at its intermodal terminal in Mexico City, where the intermodal division handled around 550,000 TEUs in 2025. The announcement described the operation as one of Latin America’s largest inland intermodal operations.

Ferrovalle’s terminal is one of Mexico’s most important rail freight hubs and acts as a last-mile link for rail traffic moving through the Valley of Mexico, according to the announcement. With the Smart Yard project, the operator is extending automation beyond the gate and further into terminal operations. Planning container storage, equipment deployment, and train loading and discharge still depends heavily on manual criteria and dispatcher judgment.

INFORM said the software will draw operational data from Ferrovalle’s existing systems to provide greater operational transparency and produce coordinated recommendations that update continuously across yard, equipment, and train operations.

“Smart Yard represents an important next step in Ferrovalle’s digital transformation and in our vision for the future of intermodal operations,” said Francisco Fabila, Managing Director of Ferrovalle. He said the objective is real-time digital visibility for every train, railcar, container, and truck moving through the operation, backed by automated data capture, advanced analytics, and INFORM’s AI-driven decision support. Integrating these capabilities into the company’s existing digital ecosystem gives teams better tools to operate more efficiently, consistently, and safely, he said, describing the technology as an enabler for a more predictable, reliable, and customer-focused service.

Four Optimizers and an Initial Fleet

The deployment combines four INFORM modules: the Yard Optimizer, Crane Optimizer, Vehicle Optimizer, and Train Load Optimizer. The initial optimized fleet includes eight RTG cranes, four reach stackers, and 14 terminal tractors.

Ferrovalle aims to lift equipment throughput, raise the ratio of billable moves to overall handling volume, and meet defined service-level targets for truck handling, train loading, and train discharging, according to the announcement.

Hybrid Architecture Alongside the In-House Terminal System

The project uses a hybrid architecture. Rather than replacing Ferrovalle’s internally developed terminal operating system, Syncrotess Optimization Plus will run as an additional optimization layer, exchanging train consist data, load plans, container status, clearance information, and operational updates with the in-house system. INFORM said the software will support yard, equipment, and train operations across two operational areas while the existing system remains in place.

“Ferrovalle already has a sophisticated digital infrastructure, so this project is not about replacing existing systems,” said Dr. Eva Savelsberg, Senior Vice President Terminal & Distribution Center Logistics at INFORM. “The task is to connect the available data with intelligent optimization and coordinate decisions across yard, equipment, and train operations.”

Customs Separation and Train Loading

The project covers two yards, one customs-cleared and one customs-controlled, and the optimization must maintain that separation while accounting for different processes for maritime and cross-border containers. Dedicated inspection and loading areas will be integrated into the workflow through automated tractor assignments and status exchanges with the terminal operating system.

Integration with the terminal’s Equipment Control System allows automatic weight checks as part of routine crane lifts, so cargo no longer requires separate weighing stops. Customs clearance is built into the loading decision itself: before Syncrotess Optimization Plus assigns a container for train loading, the in-house system confirms that customs and documentation clearance has been granted, and only cleared containers can be released for loading.

The Train Load Optimizer will also automate a planning process that is currently largely manual. It generates optimized train load plans based on available containers, train configurations, operational restrictions, and clearance status, and planners remain able to review and adjust the proposed plans when required.

The companies signed the contract in early September 2026 and plan to go live about nine months later, in June 2027.