It’s Official: Maya Train Expanding to Guatemala and Belize

Mexico and Guatemala have officially confirmed plans to extend the Maya Train beyond Mexican borders, with the ambitious rail project set to add approximately 300 kilometers (186 miles) of new track through Central America.

The announcement came after talks between Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo, building on discussions that began under former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador in 2022.

“If we, the three countries, manage to build a development hub for the well-being of our people, it will be a completely different vision for Guatemala and Mexico,” Sheinbaum said during a press conference following the bilateral meeting.

The extension would stretch the existing 1,554-kilometer (966-mile) Maya Train network that currently loops around the Yucatán Peninsula. The project aims to serve both passenger and cargo transportation needs across the three-nation region.

Guatemala currently lacks an active passenger rail network, making the connection particularly significant for regional development. Arévalo called the potential link an opportunity with “enormous potential” for both countries.

“Connecting the Maya Train with Guatemala and eventually Belize is a vision we share, and for this we agreed to promote the start of trinational negotiations, as well as the respective feasibility studies,” the Guatemalan president said.

Three-Phase Development Plan

Railway Gazette International reports the extension would proceed in three distinct phases. The first phase involves building just over seven kilometers (4.3 miles) of track west of Chetumal, crossing the Hondo River that marks the Mexico-Belize border.

The second phase would extend the railway through Belize, reaching Guatemala’s border east of Tikal, one of the region’s premier tourist destinations. The final phase would connect the network to Tikal and the city of Flores in Guatemala.

Belize Prime Minister John Briceño has emerged as a key advocate for the project, positioning his country as the crucial link between Mexico and Guatemala. “We need to continue to make the point that Belize is the link for Mexico and Guatemala,” he said.

The Maya Train currently operates with limited ridership compared to initial projections. Recent reports show the system has struggled with profitability, carrying about 1,200 daily passengers despite projections that anticipated higher numbers.

Environmental and Development Concerns

Both leaders emphasized environmental protection as a priority for the expansion. Arévalo noted that the train would not cross any existing nature reserves, addressing concerns about the project’s impact on protected forests in northern Guatemala, particularly around the El Petén jungle.

“We view the Maya Train as a development solution that not only does not contradict, but rather strengthens the search for a sustainable model that clearly protects the country’s biological, natural and cultural heritage,” Arévalo said.

The project addresses broader regional development goals, particularly in areas where northbound migration is common. Sheinbaum noted that people generally migrate “out of necessity” rather than choice, suggesting the rail connection could provide economic opportunities that reduce migration pressures.

Maya Train Economic Impact Projections

Estimates suggest the expanded Maya Train network could create up to 100,000 jobs across the three-country region. For Belize, the railway is expected to boost tourism and expand trade opportunities while positioning the country as a key transit hub in Central America.

The extension would strengthen cultural and commercial ties between Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala while providing modern infrastructure connectivity across borders.

Construction on freight terminals in Cancún and Chetumal is scheduled to begin in April, overseen by Sedena, part of Mexico’s Ministry of National Defense. A 66.7-kilometer (41.4-mile) branch line from Mérida north to serve the port of Progreso is also planned.

Feasibility studies for the international extension are expected to begin soon, though no timeline has been announced for construction or completion of the cross-border segments. The project represents one of the most ambitious rail infrastructure developments in modern Central American history.