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As the Maya Train project hurtles towards its completion, it could be set to gain connectivity with Cancun International Airport from an unlikely source – Elon Musk.
A stunning piece of infrastructure and tourism development, the Maya train has captivated the mind of locals and travelers alike, with the ambitious project set to make it easier for travelers to visit amazing Mayan temple sights and enjoy more of the scenic nature that has been winning the hearts of all who visit the region for decades now.
However, as travelers who have visited Cancun during high season will know, the highways can be prone to long traffic jams and congestion, particularly during times of roadworks and other infrastructure development challenges. However, thanks to some blue-sky thinking from Mexico’s President, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), solutions to Maya train-related traffic could be found underground, with a little help from Elon Musk’s construction business The Boring Company. Here’s everything we know about this exciting story so far.
Maya Train – What Travelers Should Know
The Maya train is the most exciting addition to the Cancun tourism scene in years and one of the largest infrastructure projects in Mexico in recent memory. With a sprawling 1,554km route, the Maya train will take travelers on a journey through 34 stations, around 7 nearby airports, and 26 archaeological zones, passing through the states of Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo as it does so – giving travelers easy access to the entire region.
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With new hotels being built along the route as well, there’s a lot for travelers to look forward to when the project is completed this December – and with completion not too far away, the authorities have been working hard to address any potential concerns or issues. A total of 5,000 troops are set to be deployed to keep both the infrastructure and the travelers safe and protected, and various solutions are being considered to make the train as easily accessible as possible – one of which lies in the form of Elon Musk.
Musk’s Helping Hand? Information For Travelers
On top of being the CEO of Tesla Motors, Elon Musk has a range of other businesses under his stewardship that have been put to use around the world, such as his space exploration company SpaceX and the satellite internet constellation Starlink, which is in operation in 50 countries.
However, it’s another one of his companies that has attracted the attention of Mexico’s President as a potential solution to an issue the Maya train is facing – The Boring Company.
Elon Musk’s Boring Company creates tunnels underground to facilitate faster travel and transport of goods. The company has already begun a tunnel project beneath the earth in Las Vegas, where it is hoped it will reduce transport times around the city significantly and ease its congestion issues, and if AMLO gets his way, a tunnel connecting Cancun International Airport and the Maya train could be the next project the Boring Company gets its hands on.
Speaking about the potential for Musk to get involved with the project, AMLO said:
“They have a very new tunnel construction system, an invention. In Las Vegas, they did something like that. We need a tunnel to connect the Cancun airport with the Maya Train station in Cancun. We want to go under the current airport to give it connectivity, and they have a fast tunneling system, as we need.”
While there is nothing concrete yet, Elon Musk did reveal his plans to visit Mexico this year to look at potential investment options following his announcement at the Tesla Investor Day that he would be opening a Tesla “gigafactory” in Mexico.
However, The Boring Company faces competition for tunneling rights in the shape of ICA, a company that has already worked on section 4 of the Maya train project. Whatever happens, one thing is for sure – the Maya train is set to be far from boring.
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Bebé Guzmán
Monday 6th of March 2023
Tunnel in limestone rock, don't think it's posible , i'll be colapse all riviera Maya, couse it's below of water, no solid rocks, here it's no las Vegas!!
Wendy Kasdan
Saturday 4th of March 2023
Cenotes lie below much of the land here. I have watched massive buildings be abandoned because of the underlying rivers and existing water interconnections. We do have earth tremors here, too. How can we possibly undermine more and not look to a future disaster?
Nestor vicente
Saturday 4th of March 2023
Amlo you are great we need one like you in every country God keep you for a long time