Maya Train Controversy: A Family’s Eye-Opening Experience

Graciela and her family of five arrived in Cancún at the end of November for a vacation. Among their planned activities was a ride on the Maya Train, specifically the North Route 5 that travels from Cancún to Playa del Carmen in Solidaridad county. They were staying at Villas Marlin, located at kilometer 13 of the city's hotel zone.

On December 2nd, the family hired a ride-hailing taxi for 650 pesos to take them to the Maya Train Cancún-Airport Station. This was their only option to reach the station without taking a lengthy bus journey into the city center and then back out to the railway station.

Upon arriving at the station for the 9am departure, they were informed that the schedule had changed and the train would be leaving at 8am. They also discovered that only first-class tickets were available. Graciela expressed her disappointment at the lack of discounted tickets, given the high cost of the train journey. The quoted price for the Executive-Special fare was 1,200 pesos one way and another 1,200 pesos for the return, per person.

The train journey includes only two stations: the intermediate Puerto Morelos station and the final destination in Playa del Carmen. The family decided they couldn't afford the fare at that time, but they remained enthusiastic about experiencing the train journey in the future.

Graciela, a teacher, was unable to access any discounts because she didn't have her teacher's ID, only her professional certificate. For comparison, a trip from Cancun to Playa del Carmen in a collective van costs no more than 60 pesos per person. The train does offer discounts for residents, seniors, those with mobility issues, and teachers.

The family also noted that the station, which was inaugurated on December 15, 2023, was not yet fully operational. Some parts of the structure appeared to be in a state of disrepair. There were no seats available, so they had to sit on the stairs while they waited.

During their wait, Graciela expressed sadness at the environmental impact of the train route, particularly the loss of trees. This sparked a debate among her family, with some lamenting the environmental damage and others seeing it as a necessary sacrifice for development, transportation, job creation, and other benefits promised by the federal government.