The launch of the Mayan Train project is undoubtedly one of the most ambitious projects of the Mexican government today.
The Secretary of National Defense, SEDENA, who is in charge of the administration of this completed work, announced that starting in January tickets will be on sale for $5 for some stations.
Full route:
According to information from the National Fund for Tourism Promotion (FONATUR), the route of the Mayan Train will be 1,554 kilometers in the States of Chiapas, Campeche, Tabasco, Yucatán and Quintana Roo.
Along the route there will be stops and 16 stations close to tourist areas and different airports. In the case of Yucatán, the stations will be at the Mérida Airport, in Teya and Izamal, with stops in Maxcanú and Tixkokob.
The main benefit of the Mayan Train, which will be built in five states in the southeast of the country, will be greater tourism (14%), economic growth (10%) and jobs (10%), all included in 34%, according to the survey carried out by the November 20 to 29.
Covered sections of the route in its initial phase and stations:
• Section 1 Chiapas to Campeche: Palenque – Escárcega
• Section 2 Campeche: Escárcega – Calkiní
• Section 3 Campeche to Yucatán: Calkiní – Izamal
• Section 4 Yucatán to Quintana Roo: Izamal – Cancún
• Section 5 North Quintana Roo: Cancún – Playa del Carmen
• Section 5 South Quintana Roo: Playa del Carmen – Tulum
• Section 6 Quintana Roo: Tulum – Chetumal
• Section 7 Quintana Roo to Campeche: Chetumal – Escárcega
Among all the sections, section 3 is the one that has made the most progress, with 129 kilometers of completed roads, of the 159 kilometers that make up the route between Campeche and Yucatán.
This is followed by section 4, which already has 200 kilometers of the promised 239 kilometers, so it is expected that the tests of the first convoy will be carried out on this route between Yucatán and Quintana Roo.
The main benefit of the Mayan Train, which will be built in five states in the southeast of the country, will be greater tourism (14%), economic growth (10%) and jobs (10%), all included in 34%, according to the survey carried out by the November 20 to 29.
Cost per trip:
Until now, no fixed rate has been established for Mayan Train tickets, but at the time Rogelio Jiménez Pons—who served as head of FONATUR until his controversial dismissal for improper exercise of public office, according to Diario Reforma—stated that Mexicans would pay an estimated 50 pesos per trip.
Meanwhile, the price for foreigners would range between 40 and 50 dollars (between 680 pesos and 850 pesos as of July 5), pending an update from the Mexican Government.
So far, Andrés Manuel López Obrador continues to commit to inaugurating the Mayan Train in December 2023, so it can be estimated that more details about the purchase of tickets will be revealed as this date approaches.