First 12 Locomotives Arrive as Mayan Train Freight Takes Shape

Mexico received the first 12 locomotives for the Maya Train freight service, which is scheduled to begin operations in January 2027. 

Mexico’s Mayan Train freight project has reached a new milestone with the arrival of its first 12 line-haul locomotives, marking the transition from civil works to operational preparation. President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that the locomotives are already being used to transport construction materials, while reaffirming that commercial freight operations are scheduled to begin in January 2027. 

The development strengthens one of the government’s flagship infrastructure initiatives, aimed at turning the passenger railway into a multimodal logistics corridor for southeastern Mexico. The announcement was made during a supervision tour of the Puerto Morelos station in Quintana Roo, where Sheinbaum reviewed construction progress. 

The 12 locomotives correspond to the initial fleet that will support the freight network, which is expected to ultimately include 19 locomotives and more than 500 freight railcars capable of transporting fuels, bulk commodities, agricultural products, containers, and industrial goods. The first units are currently hauling construction materials needed to complete the freight infrastructure before commercial service begins.  

Freight Expansion Advances Logistics Strategy

The freight component is designed to complement the passenger railway by connecting ports, industrial parks, and logistics hubs across the Yucatan Peninsula. Government plans include four multimodal freight terminals located in Palenque, Poxila, Progreso, and Cancun, allowing cargo to move between rail, highways, and maritime facilities while strengthening supply chains across southeastern Mexico.

The project is also expected to improve connectivity with strategic infrastructure beyond the peninsula. Through Palenque, the freight line will link with the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (CIIT), creating an alternative logistics route between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. Progreso Port will serve as another critical gateway for international cargo movements, expanding export and import capacity for the region.  

This follows the federal government’s broader effort to position rail infrastructure as a pillar of economic development. Alongside the Mayan Train freight system, the administration is advancing passenger rail projects connecting Mexico City with Pachuca, Queretaro, and other strategic corridors as part of a nationwide railway expansion.

Mexico Business News previously reported that these rail initiatives form the backbone of Sheinbaum’s infrastructure agenda, combining passenger mobility with logistics investments intended to improve regional competitiveness and strengthen domestic supply chains. The freight version of the Mayan Train is expected to play a central role in that strategy by integrating industrial development with transport infrastructure across southeastern Mexico.

Environmental Works Continue Along the Corridor

Construction of the freight network continues alongside environmental and engineering works. Earlier this year, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) approved the Cancun bypass required for freight operations, allowing trains carrying cargo to avoid urban passenger routes while improving operational efficiency. The approval included environmental mitigation measures designed to reduce impacts on surrounding ecosystems.

Over the coming months, work will focus on completing terminals, logistics facilities and remaining rail infrastructure ahead of the planned inauguration of freight services in January 2027, when the government expects the Mayan Train to become both a passenger railway and a strategic freight corridor for southeastern Mexico.