The general director of the Tren Maya, Óscar Lozano Águila, recently admitted that the railway project will not reach its financial breakeven point before 2030. He assured that it will only be viable if a robust freight service is consolidated to complement the passenger service.
During a meeting with railway companies, Lozano Águila justified the failure by saying that "no passenger train in the world is profitable". He added that freight movement will be indispensable to maintain the train's operation in the south of the country.
In 2024, the Tren Maya caused only 275 million pesos in revenue. However, its operating expenses reached 2,837 million, resulting in a loss of 2,561 million in its first year.
A risky bet on freight transport
The government seeks to reverse the losses with freight operations starting in 2026. The goal is to transport up to 2 million tons of goods each year.
