An update on the Mayan Train progress in Mexico – February 2024

The first sections of the Mayan Train between Campeche and Cancún are now operational, having been inaugurated recently. This marks the beginning of the train’s phased opening, with further sections set to be completed and opened progressively. The entire project is scheduled for full operation by February 2024.

Latest update 8th February 2024:

The Mayan Train, nearing 50% completion, promises to boost quality of life, environmental stewardship, and sustainable development in Mexico. The train aims to connect the Caribbean with interior regions, spotlighting Mayan heritage and spurring economic growth. With its first section operational and full service expected by February 2024, the train represents a blend of cultural heritage and modernity, set to transform travel and economic landscapes across five states.

The airport is set to start operations in 2024 and is expected to relieve congestion at Cancún International Airport and boost economic development in Tulum.

The airport will have a capacity of 5 million passengers per year and a 3.7 km runway with a Category 1 instrument landing system. It will also be classified as a category 4 ECO airport and follow environmental recommendations. However, local activists have raised environmental concerns over the project.

It will cover a distance of approximately 1,500 km and will pass through the states of Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo.

The economic benefit calculated for the investment of the Mayan Train is 31.7 billion pesos for 2020. And 113.8 billion pesos from 2021 to 2023.

The impact of the public investment in the train will generate more and better jobs for the people of the southeast. According to multiple studies, it has been determined that there is a greater direct and indirect effect on the economy when investing in hotels, while there is a greater impact when investing in the construction sector. This means that significant investment in tourism and construction has an economic expansion effect on wages, employed personnel, production, and added value.

In addition to the creation of direct jobs, the construction of the Mayan Train will trigger indirect opportunities -due to the economic growth that it will generate at the local level- by making use of lodging and food services, among others. It will also require non-specialized consumable materials, as well as the rental of vehicles, equipment, and machinery during the works.

The Mayan Train project in Mexico gained momentum in 2022 check out the progress below:

Update Nov 2022: AMLO presents a new stretch elevated trackway for the Maya Train Project in Quintana Roo

Crews working on the Mayan Train project in Mexico have received over 7,300 tons of ballast material from Veracruz and in total, the project will need over 4.6 million cubic meters for the seven sections of the route.

Upon completion, the Mayan Train will span 948 miles, connecting cities along the Yucatan Peninsula, from Palenque in Chiapas to Cancun, Quintana Roo.

Videos:

NBC NEWS: Mexico’s Multi-Billion Dollar Train Project Through Sacred Mayan Sites Resumes

CGTN America: Mexico’s Maya Train will launch in December 2023

Here are the latest developments as follows:

• In section 1, in Tenosique, Tabasco, the construction of Longitudinal Drainage Works continues. Up to now, 2,060 linear meters have been advanced. This work is carried out along the completed embankment, of which 81 km have already been carried out and an additional 60 km are under construction.
  
  In El Triunfo, Balancán, workers are unloading cement from Veracruz. To date, they’ve received about 13,295 cubic meters of cement.

• In section 2 (section connecting Tenabo and Pomuch in Campeche), works on the railbed can be seen advancing steadily, the subgrade (a layer of sediment such as gravel, sand, or silt that provides strength and support to a layer or rock above it) is being supplied, and initial stripping work is being performed..
• In section 3, the simultaneous construction of vehicular crossings continues in Euán, San Bernardino, Chocho, Poxilá and Hoctún in Yucatán. We have also made considerable progress in bending and fitting steel for different climbs; 15 vehicular crossings have been built.
• In section 4, work is advanced on the Kantunil-Cancun Highway. There are 104km out of 127km available.

In addition to providing a new, efficient means of travel and employment for people in southeastern Mexico, the Mayan Train is creating new, safe pathways for wildlife along its route.

Along the train route, infrastructure for wildlife has been built with the support of local communities. In addition to tunnels for large mammals and steel clearance activities, 58 Transversal Drainage Works are being built to protect small vertebrates.

Thanks to the Mayan Train, some 92,050 jobs have been created in southeastern Mexico in 2022.

Completion date for the Mayan Train

The Maya Train—the proposed transportation project between Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and Central America—is targeted for completion in 2023.

The government has said that the Maya Train should be ready by 2024.

Mayan Train and on the Real Estate Market Prices

We’ve noticed an increase in the sale price of some land and properties in the Riviera Maya region such as Playa del Carmen and Tulum. The best time to invest in real estate within this region is now. While prices are steadily increasing closer to the completion as an investor and someone who is looking for a home or property. We suggest you begin the search for a property now. Click here to contact a real estate agent who can help you today – No obligation.

Here are some common questions and answers about the Mayan Train:

What is the Mayan Train?

The Mayan Train is a railway project that seeks to connect various tourist destinations in the Yucatan Peninsula, including Cancun, Tulum, and Palenque. The train is expected to have both passenger and cargo services.

When will the Mayan Train be completed?

The project is currently underway, with construction expected to continue until 2024. Some sections of the track are already operational, including the first segment connecting the cities of Merida and Valladolid.

Who is funding the Mayan Train?

The project is being funded by the Mexican government, as well as private investors.

How much will it cost to ride the Mayan Train?

The exact cost of riding the Mayan Train has not yet been announced, but it is expected to be affordable for both tourists and locals.

What are the potential benefits of the Mayan Train?

Supporters of the Mayan Train project argue that it will create jobs, boost tourism, and promote economic development in the region. The train will also provide a more environmentally-friendly mode of transportation compared to cars and buses.

What are the potential drawbacks of the Mayan Train?

Critics of the project have raised concerns about its potential impact on the environment, as well as the potential displacement of indigenous communities living near the proposed train route. There are also concerns about the train’s impact on cultural heritage sites and local ecosystems.