MEXICO’S National Fund for Tourism Development (Fonatur) has completed construction of 70km of section 1 and 80km of section 2 of the 1550km Mayan Train project.

Giving a progress update for the sections, the general director of Fonatur, Mr Javier May Rodríguez, said all rails, sleepers and ballast for section 2 have now been delivered. Section 2 runs 234km from Escárcega to Calkiní, in the state of Campeche, with five stations.

The La Hoya viaduct on the section is 87% complete, with all 10 viaducts on the route 60% complete, while drainage works are 70% complete. Half of the pedestrian, vehicular and wildlife crossings on the section are also complete.

A depot is being built at San Francisco Campeche station, while a maintenance facility and hotel is being built at the Edzná station, along with improvements to, and the construction of, visitor centres at the Edzná and Xcalumkín archaeological zones.

“Travelling along section 2 will allow us to get to know and enjoy iconic places, such as the historic city of Campeche, the Champotón River, the archaeological site of Edzná and the museum of Hecelchakán, as well as being able to enjoy the gastronomy and handicrafts of Campeche,” May Rodríguez says.

Section 1 runs 226km from Palenque, Chiapas, to Escárcega, Campeche, and will have six stations, a workshop and depot. All of the rail for the section has now been delivered, along with 42% of the ballast and 88% of the sleepers.

Section 1 has created 12,000 jobs, and the 184 pedestrian, vehicular and wildlife crossings are 63% complete. 382 transversal drainage works have been completed and progress on 12 bridges is 60% finished.

The visitor centre at the Palenque Archaeological Zone is 83% complete and will be the first to be finished, while the boulevard that will connect to the train station is 40% complete.

The 220m-long Boca del Cerro bridge, where the Mayan Train will cross the Usumacinta River, preserving the original structure of the current bridge, is 63% complete. Four viaducts are being built on the section which are 75% complete: a 2.9km viaduct in Tenosique, Tabasco; a 1km viaduct in Escárcega, Campeche; a 989km viaduct in Candelaria, Campeche; and a 136m viaduct in Palenque, Chiapas.

The construction contract for section 1 was awarded to a consortium led by Mota-Engil México at the end of April. The consortium also comprises China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), Cosh Group, Eyasa and Gavil Engineering.

The Spanish joint venture of FCC Construcción and Operadora Cicsa secured the contract for section 2.

The line is due to open in December this year.

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