Tren Maya Announces New Dining Car and ‘Janal’ Craft Beer

The Tren Maya has unveiled its plans for a dining car, named Janal, and with it, its own brand of beer, which will be served on all of the railway’s routes.

But, as with much news regarding the Tren Maya, the official opening of the restaurant car Janal, its menu, and opening hours have not been disclosed. 

The restaurant car’s concept, according to a Tren Maya press statement, was inspired by the work of modernist Luis Barragán, a Mexican architect passionate about aesthetics and nature. His style is a global architectural reference. This model features comfortable spaces designed for enjoying regional cuisine.

Tren Maya Beer

Regarding the Tren Maya Beer, the official social media accounts have clarified that it is a collaboration with Cerveza Ceiba, a Yucatecan company that has been producing craft beer since 2012.

The date the beer will be available on board the Tren Maya has not yet been announced. However, several samples were served to representatives of the Peninsula’s food and hotel industries during a preview trip between the Mérida Teya and Izamal stations.

Tren Maya Beer will come in three varieties: light, amber, and dark. According to the announcement, the beverage “pays homage to the identity of the Southeast and to the experience of enjoying the journey with intention and pride.”

It is unclear if the Tren Maya beer will be served exclusively aboard the Janal Car or if it will be for purchase on any train car or in retail stores.

The Janal Car, A Long Time Coming

The Janal restaurant car, as well as sleeper cars, has beenamong the Tren Maya’s promises since the project was first announced. However, only computerised renders, not actual photos or concrete information, have ever been released.

Regarding the question of sleeping cars, the Tren Maya has yet to make any official statements, but insists plans are in the works to offer passengers the option. 

Since the Tren Maya began operations, passengers have complained about the lack of meal options on board and the quality of the food. To make matters worse, on some routes, Tren Maya officials have denied passengers the ability to bring their own food aboard, even if it’s something as simple as a sandwich purchased at Tren Maya stations.

Though the Tren Maya has seen a modest increase in passenger bookings over the past few months, it remains far from profitable. Administrators hope that positive press about its new Janal dining car can turn things around in time for the influx of tourists expected in Mexico for the FIFA World Cup. 

As for the beer itself, it will be interesting to see how the market takes to this brew, as competition in the craft beer sector has picked up steam in the Yucatán Peninsula over the past decade. 

While Cerveza Ceiba and Cerveza Patito are by far the largest beer producers in the peninsula, not ownedby multinational corporations, microbreweries like Thodes and Acasillados have been growing in popularity.