Cancun, Q.R. — Details of a study being conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers are expected to include the capacity of passengers for the Maya Train once it is in operation in 2033.
Once complete, the details will be used in the financial model of Fondo Nacional de Fomento al Turismo (Fonatur) in order to give complete viability to the project, both financial and operational.
Fonatur head Rogelio Jiménez Pons reports that regarding passengers, in 2033, the Maya Train could transport an average of 173,000 passengers per day or just over 63 million passengers per year, of which 23 million are estimated to be local passengers.
Jiménez Pons is working on feeder routes with those involved in the project which he says, will be vital to establish local connections to the new stations. Although in principle it was planned with 15 stations, it will now have 18.
Two of the three that were incorporated will be in Cancun and Chetumal and another in El Triunfo (Balancán, Tabasco) according to Jiménez Pons. He also has not ruled out that the railroad could connect with Guatemala, adding that during construction, other stations will be evaluated.
Consultations for the Maya Train project continue as President López Obrador has his sights set on two issues in particular, the deadline for the execution of the project so it can begin operations in 2023, and investment costs, which could range between 120 billion to 150 billion peso.
