Maya Train will Not Be Powered by Solar Energy

FONATUR (Fondo Nacional de Fomento al Turismo) , has announced it has suspended plans, for the time being, to develop or install any solar-powered energy capacities for the Maya Train project. Rogelio Jiménez, Fonatur Director, announced Tuesday during a press conference that plans to install 200MW of solar capacity to help reduce the environmental impact of the project had been postponed to, at least, the second half of 2022. 

“We need to find some way to power the 200MW that must be generated. As you know, last year was very difficult. This year has not been so difficult despite the  hurricane we just had,” said Jiménez.

He also mentioned that the project is currently focused on more functional parts of the infrastructure, such as railroads and stations scattered throughout the states. 

“With respect to solar parks, we have important delays. This year we want to focus on the Maya Train’s construction,” he added. 

Jiménez also announced that there had been a rerouting of the Train. Specifically, the change of route for San Francisco Campeche, capital of the state. The route was originally intended to cross the center of the city and have a station within. Now, the Maya Train will pass through the peripheral area of the city, and parallel to Pablo García and Montilla. The local station will now be closer to the airport. Jiménez explained the decision had been taken due to the cost and time it would have taken to build the original train location, so the new route will “represent economical and time savings, both important for the project as a whole,” said Jiménez. 

The Maya Train is a MX$161 billion project initiated under the López Obrador administration to connect the Yucatan peninsula and its neighboring states (Campeche, Yucatán, Quintana Roo, Chiapas, and Tabasco). The Maya Train is a flagship mega-project for the current administration, and has not gone unnoticed by critics and environmentalist activists alike. This new controversial announcement may amount to existent criticism.