Tren Maya (Mayan Train) is a 1,525 km intercity railway in Mexico crossing the Yucatán Peninsula. Construction began in June 2020, with completion set for late 2023, aiming to connect key cities, improve mobility, and transform travel across the southeast.

Mayan Train is a major infrastructure project for socioeconomic development and sustainable tourism in Mexico. It links top cities, archaeological sites, and tourist areas of the Yucatán Peninsula, aiming to foster growth, connectivity, and regional progress.

Mayan Train, owned by the public company Olmeca-Maya-Mexica, will connect the Yucatán Peninsula with three rail services: passenger, tourist, and cargo. This new system strengthens transport, boosts tourism, and integrates local communities into Mexico’s economy.

The Mayan Train project was officially presented on September 10, 2018, to the governors of Mexico’s southeast. Conceived as a transformative railway, it reflects both ambition and controversy, promising jobs, tourism, and growth while raising social and environmental debate.

Maya Train departs from Palenque and runs northeast to Cancún via two routes circling the peninsula. Designed to link Caribbean resorts with lesser-known inland destinations, it connects cities, ruins, and natural wonders, aiming to balance tourism, mobility, and development.

Services and project scale

Regional service: The Tren Maya regional service will connect nearby cities across the Yucatán Peninsula, offering reliable rail transport for both locals and visitors. It aims to improve daily mobility, reduce travel times, and provide affordable access to essential destinations.

Tourist service: The Tren Maya tourist service will feature a unique design and routes that pass through archaeological sites, magical towns, cenotes, and beaches. It is designed to highlight Mexico’s cultural and natural treasures while giving travelers safe, fast, and comfortable access.

Cargo service: The Tren Maya cargo service will support the transport of goods across southeastern Mexico, cutting delivery times, reducing costs, and lowering environmental impact. It seeks to improve logistics, strengthen trade, and boost regional economic competitiveness.

Tren Maya spans about 1,500 km with 20 main stations and nearly 690 km of electrified track. As one of Mexico’s largest infrastructure projects, it aims to modernize transport, foster sustainable development, and connect key cities, towns, and tourist destinations.

Fleet, construction, and environmental concerns

The Tren Maya fleet, called Tsíimin K’áak, belongs to Alstom’s family of trains. It is a hybrid diesel-electric model with 4 to 7 cars per unit. Designed for efficiency and flexibility, this modern system will support regional, tourist, and cargo services in Mexico.

Tren Maya is owned by OMM (Olmeca-Maya-Mexica), under Mexico’s Secretary of National Defense (SEDENA), and operated by the National Tourism Fund (FONATUR). The project combines military oversight with tourism management to balance security, growth, and mobility.

Construction of the Tren Maya began in June 2020. By June 2021, 10% of the work was complete, rising to 25% in February 2022. To accelerate progress, the route was modified in January 2022, bypassing Playa del Carmen while keeping major destinations connected.

Route sections

  • Section I runs from Palenque to Escárcega (228 km)
  • Section II from Escárcega to Calkiní (235 km)
  • Section III from Calkiní to Izamal (172 km)
  • Section IV from Izamal to Cancún (257 km)
  • Section V from Cancún to Playa del Carmen / Tulum
  • Section VI from Tulum to Bacalar (254 km)
  • Section VII from Bacalar to Escárcega (287 km)

Environmental and social concerns

Environmental and indigenous rights activists have opposed the Tren Maya project, criticizing the construction of new tracks through the jungle. Concerns focus on deforestation, habitat loss, and lack of proper consultation with affected communities.

In March 2022, Greenpeace activists chained themselves to heavy machinery in Quintana Roo to protest Tren Maya construction. Their action highlighted the cutting of jungle areas without prior environmental studies, sparking national and international criticism.