Riviera Maya, Q.R. — While news of the December 1 inauguration of Tren Maya continues to keep people waiting, the probable cost of tickets has been released. On Friday, the General Director of Tren Maya, General Óscar Lozano Águila, said they are looking at charging local train travelers just under two-and-a-half pesos per kilometer.
In a recent interview with Grupo Fórmula, Lozano Águila said the more likely local travel rate will be 2.32 pesos per kilometer with varying ticket prices for national and international train passengers. Students, the disabled and the elderly will also have special prices.
However, as a company, they are looking at 2.32 pesos per kilometer for locals. “Many questions have been raised regarding the costs,” he said. The price per passenger will also change depending on who they are.
“If the passengers are local, if they are national, if they are international, if they are going to receive subsidies or not, if the season is high or regular, the distance they will travel are all factors per passenger,” he explained.
“For a local, the price of 2.32 pesos per kilometer is likely, while a national tourist will pay 2.90 and an international tourist 4.35 pesos per kilometer,” he revealed.
The entire Maya Train route will be approximately 1,554 kilometers and pass through 40 municipalities and 181 towns in the states of Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo.
On tour, passengers can visit, among other attractions, 46 archaeological zones such as Chichén Itzá, Uxmal, Calakmul, Edzná and Palenque, 28 rural communities, 18 Indigenous Paradises, 14 Magic Towns and six World Heritage Sites.
The seven sections of the Maya Train include Section 1: Palenque-Escárcega (228 kilometers). Section 2: Escárcega-Calkiní (235 kilometers). Section 3: Calkiní-Izamal (172 kilometers). Section 4: Izamal-Cancun (257 kilometers). Section 5: Cancun-Tulum (121 kilometers). Section 6: Tulum-Chetumal (254 kilometers) and Section 7: Chetumal-Escárcega (287 kilometers).
The 21 train stations (estaciones) and 14 bus stops (paraderos) along the 1,554 kilometer route will be distributed in Section 1: Stations (Palenque, Boca del Cerro, El Triunfo) and bus stations (Tenosique, Candelaria). Section 2: Stations (Escárcega, Edzná, San Francisco de Campeche) and stop (Carrillo Puerto). Section 3: Stations (Mérida, Teya, Izamal) and stop (Mexcanú, Tixkokob).
Section 4: Stations (Chichén Itzá, Valladolid, Nuevo Xcán) and stop (Xibalbá, Leona Vicario). Section 5: Stations (Cancun Airport, Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Tulum Airport) and bus stations (Xcaret, Puerto Aventuras, Akumal). Section 6: Stations (Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Bacalar, Chetumal Airport) and stop (Limones). Section 7: Stations (Xpujil) and Paraderos (Conhuas, Centenario).
Passengers will be able to travel on three different levels. Xiinbal (Walk): Basic passenger service with panoramic windows, business class seats, standard seats and a cafeteria.
Janal (Eat): Service with various seating configurations and a restaurant with food and drinks typical of the regions through which the train passes. Tables for two and four people and P’atal (Stay): Designed for long distances with reclining seats and sleeping cabins with private bathroom.
Lozano Águila said that ticket prices are being looked at from both the tourism side as well as the local resident side, which he says, will be used by local area workers to travel to and from their jobs.