Tren Maya on the fast track: updates on miles of constructed railway
Since the announcement of its construction, the Tren Maya has divided opinions among Mexicans, as have other projects of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, such as the Felipe Ángeles International Airport. Now, what seemed like something far away is close to becoming a reality, as the train’s inauguration date is scheduled for December 1, 2023, the day it would begin operations.
In his morning press conference, López Obrador explained that there are sections such as section 5 (Cancun-Tulum, Quintana Roo) that are already more than 80% complete and there are others such as section 7 (Bacalar, Quintana Roo – Escárcega, Campeche), which are less than 60% complete.
Section 1, which passes through seven municipalities and goes from Palenque to Escárcega crossing the states of Chiapas, Tabasco and Campeche, registers 70 kilometers of finished track of the 226 kilometers of that section.
“They are being carried out at a good pace, with shifts even at night, so the progress goal is being met”, said Javier May, general director of the National Fund for Tourism Development (Fonatur).
It is worth remembering that the 70 kilometers represent only 31% of progress in this section, although it was supposed to be 100 percent in August 2022.
How many people are working on the construction of the Mayan Train?
According to official government information, 520 archeologists and other specialists are working on the construction of the railroad; 500 army personnel are “providing rescue support” and 400 brigadiers as well as 1,240 “brecheros” are working in the field.
Blas Andrés Núñez Jordán, head of the Mayan Train Operations Coordination Center (CCO), announced that the Sedena is building a hotel 1.6 kilometers from the archeological zone of Chiapas and 15 minutes from the Mayan Train station.
What are the stretches?
- Section 1: Palenque – Escarcega (228 km)
- Section 2: Escárcega – Calkiní (235 km)
- Section 3: Calkiní – Izamal (172 km)
- Section 4: Izamal – Cancún (257 km)
- Section 5 North: Cancún – Playa del Carmen (49.8 km)
- Section 5 South: Playa del Carmen – Tulum (60.3 km)
- Section 6: Tulum – Bacalar (254 km)
- Section 7: Bacalar – Escárcega (287 km)
