Maya Train Fails to Reach Passenger Goals – Just 19% Filled

The Maya Train, a significant transportation project in Mexico, has been carrying far fewer passengers than initially projected. Government estimates suggested the train would transport approximately 8,200 passengers daily. However, official reports indicate that currently, only 1,600 people use the service each day.

Since its inauguration on December 16, 2023, up until October 14 of the following year, the train has transported a total of 480,769 passengers. These passengers are primarily from within Mexico, rather than local or international travelers. This figure represents just 19.5 percent of the train's target of 3 million annual passengers.

The Maya Train project, which was initiated under the administration of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, was originally estimated to cost 140 billion pesos. However, the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO) suggests the final cost could be three times this amount, estimating a total public expenditure of 515 billion pesos.

In addition to passenger transport, the train is also planned to handle cargo transport. Construction for this aspect of the project is set to begin next year, with an additional budget of 40,827,372,000 pesos allocated.

The full route of the Maya Train, spanning 1,554 kilometers, is not yet complete. Construction continues in sections, from Tulum to Campeche and Escárcega.

The majority of the nearly half a million passengers transported between 2023 and 2024 were Mexicans from outside the regions of Chiapas, Quintana Roo, Yucatán, Campeche, or Tabasco. These are the regions through which the train route passes, and local residents are offered a discount on fares. The total number of national passengers was 317,754, while local passengers numbered 138,479.