Campeche, Mexico – Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador unveiled a significant milestone in his administration’s ambitious project – the Maya Train – on Friday. The inaugurated 290-mile stretch connects the colonial city of Campeche on the Gulf coast to the popular Caribbean resort of Cancun, covering about one-third of the planned 950-mile loop around the Yucatan peninsula.
While the Maya Train aims to link beach resorts and archaeological sites, it is far from completion. Officials assure the entire $20 billion project will be finished by the end of February, but visible signs of incomplete earthworks and only one lane of a planned double-lane track suggest delays.
Traveling at an average speed of 50 miles per hour (80 kph), the journey from Campeche to Cancun takes approximately 5 1/2 hours. Despite promises of speeds up to 75 mph (120 kph), the actual capability remains to be seen.
Two trains will operate daily in each direction, making stops in Merida, Chichen Itza, and about ten other towns. Initially proposed fare distinctions between Mexican and foreign travelers seem to have vanished, with only first-class and “tourist class” tickets offered. The listed price for a first-class ticket from Cancun to Merida is $68 USD, while a comparable bus ticket costs approximately $58.
Friday’s inauguration marked the completion of the least controversial section of the Maya Train. The remaining two-thirds face environmental challenges, cutting through jungles and delicate cave systems. The Mexican army played a significant role in constructing the railway, which will be operated by the armed forces – a move aligning with López Obrador’s trend of entrusting projects to the military.
President López Obrador hailed the Maya Train as an unparalleled global undertaking, emphasizing its record-setting pace. The completed section will eventually extend to include beach towns like Playa del Carmen and Tulum, as well as Mayan ruins at Calakmul and Palenque.
