Mayan Train Project: Revenue Struggles as Costs Soar

The Mayan Train, a flagship project of the López Obrador administration, has been struggling to generate significant revenue. Six months into its seven-month operation, the train is spending approximately 700 pesos for every 100 pesos it earns from ticket sales, food, and souvenirs.

Since its launch on December 16th last year, the Mayan Train has been operating at less than half its planned capacity, with an average of 1,160 passengers traveling daily on 16 available trains. The complete project plans for a total of 42 trains.

In its first 184 days of operation, the train collected 106.8 million pesos from ticket sales, with March seeing the highest influx of paying passengers. Souvenir sales brought in 1.8 million, while food sales amounted to 6.5 million during the same period. However, these earnings are dwarfed by the train's operating costs, which are seven times higher.

The military-run company Tren Maya, SA de CV, which operates the train, provided a breakdown of the costs. The largest expense is "Subcontracting services with third parties," which alone cost around 604.8 million pesos from January to May of this year. Other significant costs include salaries and wages, fuel, personal protection items, minor tools, analog and digital signal driving services, and maintenance and preservation.

Despite the financial challenges, Tren Maya remains optimistic about the project's potential. The company recently stated that the project has more than 70% of national inputs, a historic achievement for the country's railway industry. It also highlighted the involvement of 37 new Mexican suppliers from 15 states.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has also publicly endorsed the project, inviting Mexicans and those abroad to experience the unique journey offered by the Mayan Train through Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo.

Currently, the Mayan Train route extends from Palenque, Chiapas, to Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo. According to the official Tren Maya website, 24 stations are operational, with 10 more still under construction.

However, the train's operation has not been without issues. In the first six months, there have been at least 15 canceled trips due to mechanical failures, derailments, and resident protests. There have also been 401 delays due to mechanical failures and obstructions on the track. In total, there have been 104 general failures since its inauguration, including two reported as "equipment in poor condition" and the rest due to "loss of power".

Tags: AMLO, Andrés Manuel López Obrador