“🚂 Maya Train Update: High demand for Palenque route, struggles on Playa del Carmen route! 🌟”

Despite a slow start, the Maya Train station in Cancun continues to see high passenger traffic on its only route to Palenque, which departs at 7 am. However, the trains to Playa del Carmen, which leave three times a day at 9 am, 12 noon, and 3 pm, are struggling to fill seats. On average, only about thirty people board these trains per run.

The station, which is still under construction, currently operates each train with four carriages, each with a total capacity of 230 passengers. Despite this, the trains to Playa del Carmen are operating at less than 20 percent capacity. Conversely, the Palenque route, which includes stops at several stations including Merida, typically operates at 80 percent capacity.

Many travelers have cited the difficulty of reaching the Cancun station and the long journey from the Playa del Carmen station to the city center as reasons for choosing alternative means of transportation. Most of those who do opt to take the train to Playa del Carmen do so to familiarize themselves with the transport system or because they are sightseeing and have ample time to travel between points.

Significant progress has been made on the construction of a bridge on Highway 180 to improve the road system. This has necessitated the relocation of the station's access point by about 50 meters. Travelers arriving by car should be aware of this change to avoid missing the entrance.

The Cancun to Palenque section of the Maya Train was inaugurated on December 31, 2023, and the North Section 5 route from Cancun to Playa del Carmen began operations on February 29, 2024.