Mayan Train Scandal: Corruption and Engine Failures Rock Mexico’s Transportation Project

The Mayan Train, a major transport project in Mexico, has been plagued by mechanical failures, with the most recent incident occurring last Friday. The train experienced a loss of friction while traveling between Nuevo Xcan and Leona Vicario on the Merida-Cancun route. Approximately 50 passengers were assisted by defense personnel and transported to the nearest station to continue their journey. These recurring issues have been attributed to alleged corruption in contracts awarded by SEDENA and Fonatur to Alstom Mexico.

Public complaints suggest that the train's engines are of poor quality. General Felipe Ayala, the operational manager of the Mayan Train, and General Óscar David Lozano Águila, the official overseeing the train's construction, have been accused of colluding with Alstom Mexico. Mobility Solutions Limited, a supplier of key components for the train, has also been implicated in the ongoing mechanical failures.

Since its launch on December 15, 2023, the Mayan Train has reported 44 unexpected issues. Among these, 63% were technical flaws in the trains, which were purchased from a consortium of companies including Alstom, Bombardier, Gami Engineering and Installations, and Urales Constructions.

The most common problem has been power loss in the train's engines. Other issues include engine overheating, tire failures, and satellite communication disconnections. Additional incidents reported in the first six months include faulty equipment, objects found on the tracks, and landslides.

On April 3, 2024, an incident was attributed to the lack of screw mechanical fixings that ensure rail switch. This failure led to a train derailing while traveling at 10 kilometers per hour, just 50 meters from the Tixkokob station. The system, which is supposed to operate automatically, is currently manually operated due to its incomplete status.

Companies Alstom and Azvindi, which manufactured the trains and rails, were tasked with assessing the damage. President Claudia Sheinbaum, however, defended the Mayan Train project as a "success", dismissing the documented operational failures as false.

The Mayan Train project, announced in 2018, was initially estimated to cost 150 billion pesos and be completed by 2023. However, the project remains unfinished and has overrun its budget by more than 500 billion pesos.

Despite these setbacks, Sheinbaum insists that the Mayan Train is a success. She acknowledged that the circuit is incomplete but promised that the remaining sections from Palenque to Chetumal will be completed by December.

However, passengers have experienced numerous delays and breakdowns. A video circulated on social media on January 20, 2024, showed a Mayan Train scheduled to depart from Cancún at 7:00 am, leaving two hours late and then breaking down again.

The Mayan Train project, which includes three long-distance trains, 31 standard trains, and eight restaurant trains, was designed to strengthen Mexico's passenger rail network. However, the frequent failures, high ticket prices, and slow transport have discouraged both tourists and locals. The most recent breakdown left more than 50 passengers stranded for over three hours before they could continue their journey.