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This week, officials announced that the ongoing construction of the remaining sections of Maya Train are facing yet another delay, with the launching of the sixth and seventh segment pushed back to 2025.
According to the latest estimates, only half of all stations along the remaining sections of the Maya Train are complete, meaning travelers will still have to wait months to use the new state of the art railway system.
The Maya Train’s sixth section is planned to run from Tulum to Bacalar, whereas the seventh section will connect Bacalar with Escárcega in Campeche.
With significant delays making the official launch date of September 15 increasingly unlikely, here’s what travelers can expect from the railway system over the coming months.
New Maya Train Construction Delays Announced, Affecting Southern Parts Of Mexican Caribbean
Although most of the Maya Train is already operational – including from Cancun to Playa del Carmen and Mérida – several significant parts of the railway track are still being built.
The highly anticipated route between Playa del Carmen and Tulum and Tulum to Bacalar is now facing a new wave of construction delays, adding pressure on officials to wrap up work before the planned September 15th deadline.
However, that goal is less and less likely by the day, according to new projections that show that the launch of the railway system could be delayed until mid-2025.
Until now, authorities had operated under a tight deadline, aiming to finish the project before the current Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s term, which ends in just several weeks.
According to experts, construction setbacks are being reported constantly in Bacalar, where flooding and difficult terrain are posing an obstacle to completing the project on time.
This means that travelers planning to use the Maya Train to travel to the southern eco-hotspot will have to find alternative means of transport, like bus or plane.
With regards to the Playa del Carmen-Tulum route, officials estimate the project completion level at over 70%, meaning it’s still possible for the railway link to be finished with a lesser delay compared to the Bacalar route.
With over one thousand homes affected by rising water levels due to the Maya Train construction efforts, officials are rushing to invest in new water pumps and rainwater drainage systems.
Travelers Can Opt For These Maya Train Routes Instead
As work continues on the southern portions of the Maya Train route, travelers are limited to the already operational sections of the railway system, including the highly popular Cancun to Mérida route.
But while visitors might still have to delay Tulum and Bacalar travel plans by several months, the good news is that there are plenty of historical attractions along the existing routes.
For example, the Cancún to Mérida route has stations in both Chichen Itzá and Valladolid, providing a convenient, affordable, and safe option for travelers.
Tickets can be purchased both online and physical from sales points in places like Cancun Airport, but opting for the former is a safer choice to secure your spot.
In addition to the booming western route, travelers can also reach Playa del Carmen and Puerto Morelos on the new railway system, with several daily departures from the large Cancun Airport station.
With regards to the remaining southern hotspots – including Tulum, Bacalar, and Chetumal – visitors will have to rely on bus or aerial connection for the time being. ADO, the largest bus company in the region, offers numerous connections to all three hotspots from Cancun with affordable prices.
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