Mexico’s Brand New Maya Train Is A Miss For Tourists, Here’s Why

The Maya Train, or Tren Maya, is a controversial project. This new train is a tourism project that was supposed to attract all types of people. On December 15, 2023, the train had its inaugural departure. Although the train was expected to be a big tourist attraction that brought in plenty of revenue, it has not lived up to expectations.

This train project was supported significantly by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador but was introduced in 2018. Even though the president is in the final two months of his term, he pushed for this tourist feature to come to fruition during his term. However, many residents and commentators are unsure of the train’s real purpose or if the effort was worth it.

It may even end up costing upwards of $30 billion to be completed as it is only halfway finished. This is a significant amount for a train that is not considered a luxury experience for riders. The train was supposed to be an efficient way to transport travelers to lesser-visited parts of Mexico. Here is why people are considering the train a useless project.

The Issues With The Maya Train

One of the biggest issues with the new Maya Train is how much it is being used. The government had originally expected the train to carry between 22,000 and 37,000 people each day. It will have 34 total stops in the states of Yucatán, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Campeche, and Chiapas. According to authorities, the train was originally supposed to connect lesser visited places in Mexico. This objective seems to be a setback now, since it is not very popular. The train has poor ridership figures, with only about 1,200 people riding it per day. Some assume this number is not as high as expected since the railway is not complete but some of the most popular stations are open.

Tourist Demand

Since the train’s ridership is down, the revenue is not looking kosher either. Only about 3-5% of the estimated 22,000 to 37,000 people per day ride the train. The Cancun, Merida, Campeche, and Palenque stations are open but many people who have hope for the train think that once the other rail lines are linked revenue will spike. The inconvenient routes play a part as well. The rail line that will link Cancun and many resorts of Playa del Carmen and Tulum has yet to be finished. Only 17 trains are operating but up to three times that may be added.

Environmentalist Concerns

There are also many people and residents that are concerned about the environmental impact of the Maya Train. The project has had a relatively negative impact on the local environment since more than three million trees have been cut down to clear a path for it. Environmental groups claim that the train is unnecessary. The government building this train has led to blows to the natural habitats of local wildlife. It has also exposed some Mayan communities that mainly reside in the jungle and have avoided tourist attention thus far.