Riviera Maya, Q.R. — The Maya Train is on track and will be inaugurated in December of 2023 reported Javier May. On Monday, May provided an update to the controversial section 5 south that has been stalled due to several judicial suspensions.
However on Monday, May, who heads the National Fund for the Promotion of Tourism, said the project is moving forward while protecting cenotes, caverns and underground rivers with elevated viaducts and a cable-stayed bridge.
During his press conference, May reported that 75 percent of the track is located on an elevated viaduct to protect the karstic soil, cenotes, caverns and underground rivers in section 5.
“The Maya Train advances to its inauguration in December of this year taking care of the archaeological heritage and natural wealth,” he stated when presenting his comprehensive report.
He specified that these sections cross eight municipalities of Quintana Roo and three of Campeche, with distances of 43.3 kilometers from Cancun to Playa del Carmen, in section 5 North, 67.7 kilometers from Playa del Carmen to Tulum in section 5 South, 255.8 kilometers from Tulum to Chetumal in section 6 and 254.5 kilometers from Chetumal to Escárcega in section 7.
He specified that in these three sections, the Maya Train will have seven stations, four bus stops, a workshop and two garages for trains as well as a maintenance base for the road and 800 complementary projects such as railway bridges, cross drainage and pedestrian, vehicular and wildlife crossings.
He recalled that archaeological zones are also being improved and work is being done on the new Paamul II site, to which the Garra de Jaguar cave, the Cueva de las Manitas and the 8 Balas cave will be added.
In addition he said, “in Tulum and Calakmul, Maya Train Hotels are being built so visitors can have a better experience in areas where important natural sites are located such as the Jaguar Park, the Laguna de los 7 Colores de Bacalar and the biosphere reserve of Calakmul.”
The head of the Maya Train Operations Coordination Center, Blas Andrés Núñez Jordán, said that the Hotel Tren Maya Calakmul will be built 10 kilometers from the archaeological zone.
He reported that the Tulum hotel being built at the Maya Train station is located inside the Jaguar National Park two kilometers from the Tulum archaeological zone. The finished product will offer 352 rooms on a 13.5 hectare property.
“Tourists who visit the hotel will be able to use the attractions that are being built in the Parque del Jaguar as well as the public beaches that will be in the same park,” said Núñez Jordán. The hotel is expected to be finished in November of this year.
The General Director of Empresas ICA, Guadalupe Phillips Margain, responsible for subsection C of section 5 South that runs from Playa del Carmen to Puerto Aventuras, explained that a general progress of 41.2 percent has been recorded on this route and includes 11 kilometers of elevated viaduct to protect the karstic zone with an advancement of 33.5 percent. She also mentioned that the Playa del Carmen station registers 26 percent progress, mainly on the platforms.
The General Director of Azvindi Ferroviario, Manuel Muñozcano Castro, in charge of subsection B of section 5 South from Puerto Aventuras to Akumal, said that the route includes 70 percent of the track on an elevated viaduct and a 300-meter-long cable-stayed bridge.
