The Mayan Train is a 913-mile rail line designed to connect tourist hot spots from Chiapas state to the Yucatan Peninsula along the Caribbean coast, including the popular Maya ruins of Chichén Itzá, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.
The rail project is a top priority of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who hopes it will be a major generator of jobs in Mexico’s poorer south. The Mayan Train means development that is respectful of the environment, cultural heritage and indigenous peoples.
The Mayan Train will help contain urban sprawl, stop environmental predation, improve connectivity between communities and improve people’s quality of life. The train will offer three transportation services: local passengers, tourist passengers and cargo, which will run at night. According to local authorities, this will facilitate the commercial flow of local products to meet regional demand and optimize transportation costs.
Contracts for the first, second and third phases of the train were granted through public bidding contests that attracted dozens of companies.