TULUM, Quintana Roo – In a recent statement, Carlos Barreda Westphal, a specialist in the railway sector, highlighted that the success of the Tren Maya project would rely on attracting medium-term private investments in the communities along its route. These investments, he emphasized, should not be limited to the tourism sector but also encompass services related to track maintenance and rolling stock.
To ensure the efficient functioning of the railway, Westphal stressed the need for immediate availability of sleepers, rails, ballast, fastenings, signaling systems, electrical materials, and other essential components for both preventive and corrective maintenance. He further emphasized that investments in logistics services, such as terminals and warehouses for cargo reception and dispatch, fuel storage and distribution, and electricity generation and transmission throughout the circuit, would be crucial for the project’s overall viability.
Addressing the freight service of the Tren Maya, Westphal noted that it would establish a new benchmark in terms of competitiveness, allowing for an evaluation of its efficiency and quality in comparison to current standards upheld by private concessionaires.
Westphal explained that the primary focus of rail freight transportation in the country pertains to international trade activities, encompassing the export and import of goods to and from the United States and Canada. In contrast, the Tren Maya aims to primarily serve the transportation demands of goods produced and traded within the peninsular region.
Consequently, the operation of the Tren Maya could potentially impact the regional trucking industry, particularly for medium and long-distance routes, once it becomes fully operational. Westphal also highlighted the importance of exploring the development of port facilities and terminals in the region to enhance connectivity with other modes of transportation, which would significantly boost the project’s potential.
Regarding passenger tourism services, the infrastructure project proposes a decentralization strategy to alleviate the concentration of visitors, approximately 30 million per year, primarily in the Cancún-Tulum corridor. This redistribution aims to redirect tourist flow to areas with lower influx, such as Tenosique, Balancán, Escárcega, Izamal, Valladolid, Cobá, Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Bacalar, and Xpujil.
It is anticipated that these population centers and their connecting routes will witness a shift from traditional vehicles to the new rail system, thereby impacting passenger transportation services, including car rental agencies, particularly for medium and long-distance journeys.
As of now, the existence of port development projects and terminals offering connectivity along the route with other transportation modes remains uncertain. However, if such projects materialize, they would undoubtedly provide a significant boost to the overall effectiveness of the Tren Maya.
