Mayan Train Grows as Freight Line Set for Late 2026 Launch

The Mayan Train has transported over 1.35 million passengers and seen a 19% monthly increase in ridership, according to President Claudia Sheinbaum. She highlights the success and growing profitability of the Mayan Train, a cornerstone of her administration’s infrastructure strategy. She adds that profitability will rise further with the full fleet and upcoming freight line set to launch by the end of 2026.

“These are not improvised projects; they are supported by business plans. Without them, southeastern Mexico would still be forgotten,” states Sheinbaum.

During her morning press conference, Sheinbaum emphasized that initiatives like the Mayan Train, Mexicana de Aviación, and national parks and hotels are not only operational but also based on solid business models that ensure short-term returns and long-term development.

The Mayan Train has transported over 1.35 million passengers as of July 15, 2025, marking a 19% monthly increase in ridership. Sheinbaum says that the service is running efficiently and on time, and its profitability will further increase with the arrival of the complete fleet of trains and the upcoming freight line, scheduled for inauguration at the end of 2026.

Óscar Lozano, Director General, Mayan Train, reports that the system’s 34 stations are fully operational, and that 10 affordable tourist packages are being offered this summer to boost regional tourism and economic activity.

The first phase of the Tren Maya’s freight line is on track for completion within 18 months, reports Gustavo Vallejo, Commander, Felipe Ángeles Engineer Corps. This phase includes the construction of intermodal terminals in Palenque, Progreso, Poxila, and Cancun, which together have generated about 5,000 jobs, with over 4,000 positions still active, he adds.

In tandem with rail developments, 66.7km of rail branches are also being constructed or rehabilitated, and the modernization of 1,320km of federal toll-free highways has been completed with an investment of MX$5 billion (US$267.18 million).

By late 2026, the government plans not only to open the freight line of the Mayan Train but also to inaugurate Line K of the Interoceanic Corridor, which will connect Ixtepec, Oaxaca, with Ciudad Hidalgo, Chiapas. This aligns with the administration’s broader vision of regional integration, sustainable mobility, and balanced national development.