The Maya Train will reach its financial break-even point by 2030, but to do so , it needs to move cargo , which will begin running on its tracks next year.
David Lozano Águila , general director of the Maya Train, explained that no passenger rail system is profitable, so it is necessary to recover the freight infrastructure that already existed with the Isthmus of Tehuantepec Railway (FIT) .
“With all our capacity to transport people, systems, and possible frequencies, we won’t generate enough resources to break even, which is why freight transport is so important for rail,” he said while participating in a bimonthly meeting of the Mexican Association of Railways (AMF) .
He specified that freight and passenger services will be carried out on the same track and will only undergo one operational modification, although the railway fleet will be equipped with the ERTMS system, which allows train position readings and is efficient and does not compromise safety.
The executive explained that they expect to move up to two million tons annually , initially, “which will increase because we are already receiving letters of intent from companies that have moved their cargo by road for many years and now do so by vehicle.”
He indicated that cargo will begin moving in 2026 , although full capacity will not be reached until 2027. “Like any company, we begin a gradual development process, reaching agreements, and we want to reach July of next year with the largest number of agreements with the local and national industry.”
He explained that they are already working with all the companies that require and demand services from the Port of Progreso, as well as the route to move products to and from said infrastructure.
Likewise, mobilize materials such as rails, sleepers, steel, and everything necessary for the construction of cargo terminals.
As part of the project to move cargo on the Mayan Train, he mentioned that there will be intermodal terminals in Palenque , a connection point with the FIT, in addition to the facility to be built in Chetumal and operations yards in Escárcega, Valladolid, among others.
As well as a turbo pipeline that will connect an intermodal terminal to Cancún Airport and feed Tulum Airport.
Lozano Águila said they will soon receive 12 road locomotives with ERTMS and seven yard locomotives , more than 500 haulage units that are at the Ferrovalle facilities .
He also mentioned that they have 300 tank trucks, 100 gondolas, 50 hoppers and vans, and 51 intermodal platforms.
“The service will comply with the North American agency’s international standards to ensure interline operations with operators in Mexico, the United States, and Canada,” he said.
He stated that the interconnection of the Maya Train with the rest of the country’s railway system is viable .
“An analysis was conducted with the Isthmus Corridor, which is the first Navy rail project that will operate in harmony or coexistence with us,” he said.
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