Cancún, Quintana Roo — The federal government will invest 7.7 billion pesos in the construction of a multimodal freight terminal in Cancún, according to the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) submitted for approval to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.
The project will occupy a 261-hectare site owned by the Quintana Roo state government, with 259.5 hectares requiring deforestation of medium subperennial tropical forest to make way for construction. The terminal will be located at kilometer 841 of the Maya Train route, approximately 8 kilometers east of Cancún International Airport.
Terminal Infrastructure and Environmental Impact
The Cancún Multimodal Terminal will include:
- A hazardous waste storage facility
- Housing for National Guard personnel and train crews
- A TETRA antenna
- A customs office or fiscalized enclosure
- Weighing scales
- Public storage warehouses
- Electrical substation
- Fire station
- Locomotive workshop parking
- Administrative offices
- Maneuvering yard
- Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)
- Water purification plant
- Intermodal platform
- Conservation area
- Locomotive washing zone
- Fuel supply area
The EIS states, “The terminal will play a fundamental role in the region’s economic development and logistical efficiency, offering significant advantages over other transport modes, such as trucking and air freight. Its massive cargo capacity, energy efficiency, and lower environmental footprint make rail an attractive option for medium- and long-distance freight transport.”
Freight Network Expansion
The Cancún terminal will be part of a 10-station freight system, including:
- Poxilá: 4,812 million pesos
- Progreso: 5,158.48 million pesos
- Chetumal: 5,047.98 million pesos
- Palenque: 4,934.70 million pesos
These terminals will feature receiving and dispatch tracks, classification yards, exchange platforms, temporary storage warehouses, administrative offices, and National Guard outposts.
Additional operational yards will be built in:
- Valladolid: 1,451.80 million pesos
- Pomuch: 1,146.63 million pesos
- Xpujil: 1,133.32 million pesos
- Escárcega: 1,452.70 million pesos
- Tulum: 154.85 million pesos
A 14-kilometer turbosino pipeline will also be built in Cancún to supply fuel directly from freight containers to Cancún Airport’s storage tanks. This infrastructure will include pump and control rooms, three large storage tanks, and loading facilities for turbosine, gasoline, and diesel.
Four new rail extensions will connect key freight corridors:
- 35.2 km bypass from Hunucmá to Progreso
- 13.5 km link from Poxilá to Hunucmá
- 18 km connection from Poxilá to Mérida
- 7.5 km segment within Progreso Port
Economic and Logistical Benefits
At a December 30, 2024, press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum and Engineer Corps Commander Ricardo Vallejo stressed the terminal’s importance to regional commerce. Vallejo noted that Progreso Port, currently the peninsula’s main logistics hub, is operating at capacity. The new freight network will relieve port congestion and reduce shipping costs by facilitating inland transport of bulk goods like fuel and cement via rail from central and northern Mexico.
Officials believe the freight terminal and expanded rail infrastructure will significantly improve the Maya Train’s profitability and make the Yucatán Peninsula more competitive in terms of distribution and industrial growth.
Potential Benefits and Concerns
While the project is poised to bring substantial economic and logistical advantages, it also raises important environmental and social questions. On the positive side, the terminal is expected to generate jobs, reduce regional shipping costs, and attract investment. It could also strengthen the resilience of supply chains by offering an inland alternative to overburdened ports and congested highways. For Quintana Roo, a state heavily reliant on tourism, the freight infrastructure represents an opportunity to diversify its economy and develop more robust industrial and commercial sectors.
However, the large-scale removal of native forest vegetation—nearly 260 hectares—has raised alarms among conservationists and local stakeholders. The affected area lies within a biodiversity-rich ecosystem that supports endemic flora and fauna, and concerns have been voiced about habitat loss, groundwater contamination risks, and increased pollution. Despite the inclusion of a conservation area and wastewater treatment plant in the project plans, critics worry about long-term ecological impacts and whether mitigation measures will be adequately enforced.
Socially, the influx of freight-related infrastructure and traffic could strain local communities and alter the character of nearby areas, particularly if noise, dust, and hazardous cargo movement are not carefully managed. As the project proceeds through environmental review, these issues will remain central to public debate.
Discover more from Riviera Maya News & Events
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.