NFORM, a global leader in AI-powered logistics and operations optimization, has announced that Ferrovalle has selected the “Syncrotess Optimization Plus” software to drive a large-scale “Smart Yard” initiative in Mexico City. Ferrovalle operates one of Mexico’s most important rail freight hubs and provides key last-mile transportation services through the Valley of Mexico. The company’s intermodal division handled approximately 550,000 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) in 2025, making it one of the largest inland intermodal operations in Latin America.

Automation at Every Level

With its “Smart Yard” project, Ferrovalle is further expanding its automation to terminal operations. The planning of container storage, equipment deployment, and the loading and unloading of trains currently still relies heavily on manual criteria and the experience of dispatchers. “Syncrotess Optimization Plus” will utilize operational data from Ferrovalle’s existing systems to create greater operational transparency and generate coordinated, continuously updated recommendations.

“Smart Yard represents an important next step in Ferrovalle’s digital transformation and in our vision for the future of intermodal operations,” says Francisco Fabila, CEO of Ferrovalle. “Our goal is clear: Every train, every railcar, every container, and every truck that passes through our operations should be digitally visible in real time—supported by automated data collection, advanced analytics, and AI-powered decision support from INFORM. By integrating these capabilities into our existing digital ecosystem, we’re equipping our teams with better tools to work more efficiently, consistently, and safely. Ultimately, technology is not an end in itself, but a means to provide a more predictable, reliable, and customer-focused service.”

The solution combines INFORM’s “Yard Optimizer,” “Crane Optimizer,” “Vehicle Optimizer,” and “Train Load Optimizer.” The fleet initially being optimized comprises eight RTG cranes, four reach stackers, and 14 terminal tractors. Ferrovalle aims to increase equipment throughput, improve the proportion of billable movements relative to total handling volume, and achieve defined service-level targets for truck handling as well as train loading and unloading.

A key feature of the project is its hybrid architecture. Rather than replacing the TOS developed in-house by Ferrovalle, “Syncrotess Optimization Plus” will function as an additional optimization layer and exchange data on car sequencing, train loading plans, container status, customs-related information, and operational updates.

Optimization in a Complex Customs Environment

The project encompasses two specific storage areas: a customs-cleared area and an area under customs control. The optimization must account for both this distinction and the different processes for ocean freight and cross-border containers. Special inspection and loading areas are integrated into the workflow through automated tractor assignments and status exchanges with Ferrovalle’s TOS. Furthermore, integration with the terminal’s Equipment Control System (ECS) enables automatic weight verification during routine crane operations, eliminating the need for separate weighing procedures and maintaining the flow of cargo.

Customs clearance is directly integrated into operational decision-making processes. Before “Syncrotess Optimization Plus” assigns a container for train loading, Ferrovalle’s TOS confirms that the required customs and documentation approvals have been granted. Only cleared containers can be released for loading.

“Ferrovalle already has a highly developed digital infrastructure, so this project is not about replacing existing systems,” says Dr. Eva Savelsberg, Head of Terminal & Distribution Center Logistics at INFORM. “The task is to link the available data with intelligent optimization and coordinate decisions across yard, equipment, and train operations.”

To further streamline intermodal rail transshipments, the “Train Load Optimizer” will also automate a planning process that is currently largely manual. It generates optimized train loading plans based on available containers, car sequencing, operational constraints, and clearance status. Planners retain the ability to review and adjust the proposed plans as needed. The contract was signed in early September 2026, with commissioning scheduled for approximately nine months later, in June 2027.

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