When completed the Train will have a stop very close to the border with Belize in Chetumal; the hope is that Belizeans may find a way to benefit our economic growth in conjunction with the new transport system next-door.
A new Train line in southern Mexico will run almost to the border with Belize. Construction of the new line began in December 2018 and is expected to be completed in late 2023.
TREN MAYA (in Spanish) and Tsiímin K’aák ( in Yucatec Maya) is the name of the new train line, which will be almost 1,000 miles of track when it’s finished. The line will have 19 stations of stops in several states in southern Mexico, including several stops in neighboring Quintana Roo; those are: Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Playa Del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar and Chetumal.
Although ‘TREN MAYA’ is experiencing some challenges with the originally planned route thru downtown Cancun and Playa, the construction of the line has not stopped.
‘TREN MAYA’ between Tulum and Cancun
Image Credits: ALMO MX.,
The line has been rerouted (minor detour) from the original plan after some issues were raised by hotel owners that resisted land acquisition that the planners sought.
Repayment of the funding for the project will come primarily from a tourism tax levied in the regions served, as well as funds diverted from other programs.
The total cost of the project has been revised several times, and was last estimated at approximately $10.5 -to- $14 billion (US$). The National Fund for Tourism Development in Mexico known as (Fonatur), has estimated that ‘TREN MAYA’ will attract 8,000 daily riders.
How Belize’s economic growth and or other inter-transit system may benefit from the new ‘TREN MAYA’ is at best a guess at the moment. TREN MAYA will have a stop in Chetumal, which will be very close to Belize’s northern border. The possible benefits will be scrutinized by many government officials of the Briceno administration.
Some have already began to suggest that the ‘TREN MAYA’ go to San Pedro Ambergris Caye, but the cost of building that sort of infrastructure would be at lease $3-billion Bz$, considering the terrain of mangrove and near shore sedimentary enclaves.
Belizeans often mention ‘why Belize doesn’t have a train system’; the simple answer is that it is not practical for Belize, Trains and maintenance cost hundred’s of millions of dollars, and is not practical for our population. But!, there were several ‘short-railroads’ in Belize many years ago that were used to deliver citrus and fruits to ships near the Pomona Valley orchards, and there were railroads to transport timber and sugar cane to the factory.
TREN MAYA is more than likely going to be good for Mexico’s transport system, which is primarily a bus system in the southern part of that country.
Many Belizeans that have traveled to southern Mexico can attest to the hundreds of new ADO Buses, and even riders that get the ADO bus from the Belize City bus terminal to as far north as Cancun, a 5 hour ride; will seek out ways to utilize that new transport system. Hopefully to benefit Belize and Business growth, in some way shape or form.
More ‘TREN MAYA’ Data
Website https://www.trenmaya.gob.mx/
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Operating speed 160 km/h (99 mph)
Written & Compiled by: channel1Belize.com / digitalBelize,LIVE Staff writer – Friday, January 7th. 2022 – channel1belize@gmail.com
