Cancún, Quintana Roo — More than two years after launching operations, the Maya Train’s stations in Quintana Roo remain underused by both tourists and local residents, a recent tour of the facilities found.
Visits to stations in Cancún, Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen revealed low numbers of passengers using the train to travel across the state and the broader Yucatán Peninsula. Parking lots were often empty or half-empty, and inside the stations, only scattered passengers and staff could be seen in corridors, ticket areas, waiting rooms and platforms.
Most commercial spaces inside the stations are vacant, with signs reading “Future commercial space” beneath the Maya Train logo. Schedules also fall far short of the full capacity federal authorities had anticipated.
According to station managers in Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen, the train currently runs only two daily round trips between Cancún and Chetumal.
When asked about the low ridership, administrative officials said that passengers sometimes take advantage of discounts for seniors and people with disabilities. “We haven’t stopped running. Sometimes there are passengers, sometimes there are no seats available, but that doesn’t mean the cars aren’t running in the morning and evening,” said the Puerto Morelos station manager.
Tourists make up most of the riders, while local residents show little interest in the Cancún–Chetumal route. Some passengers noted a major drawback: travelers cannot continue directly from Chetumal to Palenque. Those taking the morning or afternoon train from northern Quintana Roo must overnight in Chetumal to catch the 7 a.m. departure to Chiapas.
Compounding the situation, rumors of possible derailments or collapses circulating on social media have fueled public distrust of the flagship federal project.
