Mayan Train Freight Network Reaches 54% Completion

Mayan Train freight network has reached 54% completion, with terminals and rail links planned to strengthen port connectivity and supply chains across the southeast.

Mayan Train freight infrastructure has reached 54.05% completion, advancing the federal government’s strategy to connect the southeast through rail-linked logistics platforms, ports, and industrial corridors.

During the morning press conference, Gustavo Vallejo, Commander, Felipe Ángeles Engineering Group, reported that construction is underway on four intermodal freight complexes in Palenque, Chiapas; Poxila and Progreso, Yucatan; and Cancun, Quintana Roo.

The project is intended to add a freight component to the Mayan Train system, linking production, and consumption centers across the Yucatan Peninsula with port infrastructure and, eventually, cross-border trade routes in southern Mexico.

Four Freight Complexes Take Shape

The planned terminals will serve as logistics nodes for cargo transfers between rail, road, and maritime transport. The Progreso complex includes a 49km rail connection to the port, creating a direct link between the Mayan Train network and one of Yucatan’s main maritime gateways.

Authorities are also rehabilitating rail infrastructure in Merida to support the freight network. The city is expected to play a central role in connecting cargo movements between the peninsula’s industrial and distribution centers and the port of Progreso.

In Cancun, the freight terminal is expected to support the supply chain needs of the tourism sector, construction activity, and regional consumption. The Palenque and Poxila facilities are designed to extend the system’s reach toward Chiapas and central Yucatan.

According to Vallejo, most first-stage works are expected to be completed in 2026. A second stage is planned for 2027, including a freight complex in Chetumal, Quintana Roo.

Logistics Connectivity for the Southeast

The federal government has positioned the freight system as a strategic complement to passenger services on the Mayan Train. While the railway was initially developed around tourism and regional mobility, the addition of cargo infrastructure could strengthen the commercial role of the corridor by lowering transport times and creating new alternatives for moving goods across the southeast.

The planned network could also improve connectivity between inland industrial zones and ports, particularly Progreso. This may support sectors including food, consumer goods, construction materials, retail distribution, and regional manufacturing.

The project is being developed by the Ministry of National Defense (SEDENA), which has deployed 33,072 personnel, including 6,380 women, as well as about 7,000 units of heavy machinery for railway and related infrastructure works.

Beyond terminal construction, federal authorities are working on right-of-way clearance and rail corridor preparation, which remain key requirements for integrating freight operations into the existing network.