Mexico begins vast Yucatan train project

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has launched the Mayan Train – a $7.4 billion project to build a 1,525km railway across five states to connect the main tourist attractions in the Yucatán peninsula


UNITED STATES
MEXICO
PACIFIC OCEAN
Mexico City
800km 500 miles


MAYAN TRAIN ROUTES
Gulf (653km)
Caribbean (446km)
Jungle (426km)
Existing routes (to be rebuilt)
Routes to be constructed


About one-third of total length will be through undeveloped jungle, which has raised
environmental concerns

Trains: Operated by “hybrid biodiesel locomotives” with top speed of 160km/h. Non-polluting hydrogen fuel proposed for Calakmul Biosphere Reserve

Alstom Coradia iLint hydrogen fuel cell train


TABASCO
CHIAPAS
Palenque
Tenosique
GUATEMALA
Calakmul
Xpujil
CAMPECHE

GULF OF MEXICO
Escárcega
Campeche
Maxcanú
Mérida
Izamal
YUCATÁN
Chichén Itzá
Valladolid
Cancún

Bacalar

Felipe Carrillo Puerto
Tulum
Playa del Carmen
Puerto Morelos
QUINTANA ROO
CARIBBEAN SEA

100km 60 miles


Sources: BBC News, Mayan Train Project, Railway Gazette 
© GRAPHIC NEWS