Tren Maya Struggles: 5% Occupancy, Billions in Losses

Mexico City — Federal Deputy Rubén Moreira Valdez of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) has once again highlighted the alarmingly low passenger numbers on the Tren Maya, despite the current peak vacation season. During two separate trips—one on the Calakmul-Escárcega route in Campeche and another on the Bacalar-Chetumal route in Quintana Roo—Moreira documented near-empty train cars, with occupancy rates as low as 5 to 7 percent.

Financial and Operational Concerns

Moreira emphasized that the Tren Maya’s operational costs exceed its revenue by a staggering margin. For every peso earned from ticket sales, the government subsidizes 25 pesos. In 2024, the train generated only 275 million pesos in ticket sales while incurring operational expenses of 2.837 billion pesos—more than ten times its income. Additionally, the project received over 26 billion pesos in public subsidies, meaning 99 percent of its funding comes from taxpayers.

Originally projected to cost between 120 and 150 billion pesos, the Tren Maya’s expenses have ballooned to 544 billion pesos—nearly four times the initial estimate.

Environmental and Social Impacts

The deputy also criticized the environmental damage caused by the project, including the felling of approximately 10 million trees—equivalent to 6,659 hectares or 1,423 times the size of Mexico City’s Zócalo. He noted that 87 percent of the land cleared in 2023 lacked legal authorization for forest land use changes. Furthermore, the construction has reportedly affected at least 119 cenotes due to the installation of support pilings.

Calls for Transparency and Accountability

Moreira submitted a formal request to the Permanent Commission of Congress, urging General Óscar David Lozano Águila, director of the Tren Maya, to appear before the Third Commission on Economic Affairs. He demanded a detailed, transparent report on the project’s financial and operational status, including updated costs, mobility and tourism outcomes, environmental impacts, and future expansion plans.

The deputy also called for Tourism Secretary Miguel Torruco Marqués to testify regarding promotional strategies for the Tren Maya, the status of hotels along its route, and the future of the state-run airline Mexicana de Aviación.

Warning Against a “White Elephant”

Moreira warned that without urgent corrective measures, the Tren Maya risks becoming a costly “elephant white”—a poorly utilized infrastructure project burdening public finances. He condemned the government’s continued investment in the train while millions of Mexicans lack basic services like clean water, drainage, and medicine.

“Without clear rules, transparent governance, or independent technical analysis to support its financial viability, what was once presented as a well-intentioned project may become a monument to improvisation,” he stated.

The deputy’s findings and demands have reignited debate over the Tren Maya’s sustainability, with critics questioning its long-term viability amid mounting financial and environmental concerns.