Mexico

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Country Details

Mexico: Federal Presidential Republic, United Mexican States, Estados Unidos Mexicanos [Spanish].

Language: Spanish (de facto) plus 68 indigenous languages.

Currency: Mexican Peso (MXN); $ or Mex$.

See Wikipedia

National Railway System

UIC code

alpha MX

Railway Operators

Link to Tren Maya (Spanish) with more information at Definitive Guide plus a Mayan Train unofficial site in English.

Ferromex is a private fright operator.

Timetable

  • Online: unofficial timetable information is available at Fahrplancenter. Note that this may be out of date.
  • Printed: summary timetables are available in some editions of the European Rail Timetable.

Information is available at the Man in Seat 61.

Maps

Web-based Maps

A Mexico City Subway Network Map.

Basic route maps for Tren Maya.

Infrastructure

Gauge

1435 mm (4 feet 8½ inches) Standard.

Electrification

  • STC - Mexico City Metro; 1500 V DC, 3rd rail and overhead.
  • SITEUR; 750 and 1500 V DC, overhead.
  • STE; 750 V DC, overhead.

Tourist Lines

Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico (Chihuahua-Pacific Railway), also known as El Chepe; Chepe Express for 673 km from Los Mochis to Chihuahua City through Copper Canyon operated by Ferromex.

Metros

Sistema de Transporte Colectivo (STC) referred to as Mexico City Metro (site in Spanish) has 12 lines with 225 route km.

Sistema de Tren Eléctrico Urbano (SITEUR) Guadalajara Metropolitan area Metro (site in Spanish) has 3 lines and 47 route km.

Trams/LRT-Systems

Servicio de Transportes Eléctricos (STE), Xochimilco Light Rail (locally known as el Tren Ligero) (Site in Spanish) operates a 13 km light rail line in the southern part of Mexico City.

Recent and Future Changes

Recent Changes

Tren Maya/Mayan Train paused public operations [and ticket sales], from 28 December 2023 to 31 December 2023, before the full 860 km Cancun (Aeropuerto) - Palenque section opened 1 January 2024 with an inaugural run on 31 December 2023 for invited guests.

Tren Maya (Tsiímin K'aák) was officially opened on 15 December 2023 with public services on the 473 km from San Francisco de [S.F.] Campeche to Cancún (Aeropuerto) on 16 December 2023. Tickets are on sale at Tren Maya e-tickets for trips on the Palenque - S.F. Campeche - Cancún (Aeropuerto) section but only for up to about a week in advance of travel.

Future Changes

The 1,525 km (948 mile) Tren Maya (Tsiímin K'aák)/ Mayan Train, serving the Yucatan peninsula, is opening in stages from 15 December 2023. Construction began in June 2020.
The railway will run from Palenque in Chiapas state northeast towards the major tourist destination of Cancún in Quintana Roo state. There are two routes, encircling the peninsula along its north and east coasts. It aims to connect tourist destinations in the Caribbean with lesser-known sites inland, including historic Mayan sites from which it derives its name.
Eventually it will serve 34 stations.

  • Cancún Airport - Playa del Carmen - 29 February 2024

Further planned openings have been delayed:

  • Playa del Carmen - Escárcega - Opening date TBC.

Obscure and Sparse Passenger Services

See PSUL: World Beyond Europe