When Will Tren Maya Launch In Yucatan, Mexico?
It was recently reported that Mexico is launching the new and exciting Tren Maya (Maya Train). The service will call at 34 locations across five Mexican states: Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, and Merida in Yucatan. Now, there is more information about the new project, including an idea of when the trains will launch.
Mexico and the Tren Maya (Maya Train)
Tren Maya is the largest infrastructure project in Mexico in the last decade. Now, a launch date has been reported, as well as a rough idea of how much tickets will cost. While ecologists have slammed the new train service, Mexico has done its best to be sustainable, while bringing in tourist dollars to the country.
The country has debated the new scenic train and where it will travel. However, it is expected to link all of the region’s main tourist locations with a well-developed intercity transport for the first time in history. Meanwhile, the locations will include popular coastal resorts, including Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, along with lesser-known attractions inland.
When will the service debut?
It turns out US travelers, visiting the Riviera Maya next winter, could be among the first to trial the new train service. According to the project’s director, Óscar Lozano, the Tren Maya will make its inaugural journey on December 1, 2023.
Lozano said that after the delays experienced earlier, all parties involved are “committed” to launching operations before the next high season. Meanwhile, the busiest time in the Mayan Riviera starts in early to mid-December, while coinciding with winter in the northern hemisphere.
How far, and which way will Tren Maya go?
It turns out Quintana Roo is not the only territory served by the Maya Train. In fact, the rail will travel an impressive 1,554 km (966 mi). Along the way, the Tren Maya will call at 34 stations in five Mexican states. It will be the perfect way to explore regions like Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche and Yucatan, where the popular colonial-era city of Medina is located.
While the service is launching on December 1, 2023, there will be a number of test journeys prior to the launch which could start as early as September 24. According to the Cancun Sun, the train will travel 15,000 km (9,320 mi) on its first ride to test its capabilities. On that journey, the Maya Train will pass white-sand beaches, while heading through Mexico’s untouched (until now) jungle landscapes.
Tren Maya and the environment
When news first broke of the Maya Train, a number of activist groups were opposed to the construction of the railway. In fact, they cited environmental concerns, which led to the project being paused several times, along with legal challenges. However, while concern is understandable, the protests have been taken into account. In fact, at a recent press conference, officials confirmed that more than 60 percent of section 5 of the line in section 5 will be built as a viaduct.
The viaduct will prevent disturbances to flora and fauna while treating passengers to a breathtaking view of the rivers, open-air cenotes and flooded caverns. In fact, the train service is promoted as being more eco-friendly than most other trains. Moreover, the train will use 10 parts per million of sulfur to run, as opposed to the normal 500 parts per million.
Maya Train schedule and ticket costs
The plan is for Tren Maya’s trains to leave each station every two hours, between 6 am and 10 pm, to boost connectivity across the Yucatan Peninsula. Meanwhile, more development is on the cards, with at least six new hotels planned close to the ancient ruins served by the Maya Train.
As for ticket prices, Fonatur, Mexico’s National Fund for the Promotion of Tourism, estimated in 2018 that the starting price for tickets would be 60 Mexican pesos for locals and around 80 Mexican pesos for visitors. Meanwhile, tickets will be available to purchase online through the Tren Maya app. They will also be available at all stations covered by the route. Moreover, official ticket offices will also offer tickets once the train is officially launched.