Tren Maya is the new train service that commenced operations at the end of 2023. It has been a huge infrastructure project. costing hundreds of millions of pesos. The route covers 1455 km and, when complete, will connect 35 stations throughout Southeast Mexico.
Tren Maya has not been without controversy. There have been concerns about the conservation of the flora and fauna of the region, as well as the protection of ancient antiquities. Additionally, the train runs over the cenotes and limestone caverns that are the aquifers providing fresh water to the peninsula. Despite all of the concerns, construction is near completion, and passengers have been allowed to buy tickets and take part in the tests and training to bring the project to its conclusion.
While not all of the stations are complete, not all of the rails have been laid, the fencing protecting the line has not been built, and not all of the anticipated 42 trains are in service, Yucatecans, Mexican tourists from other parts of the country, and visitors from abroad all seem keen to find out more and use the service as soon as possible.
We live in Merida, Beaux, our Pet Friendly Yucatan Ambassador went to explore the new tram track building programme that runs close to our home. This used to be a disused railway line, which we walked along regularly. Now, as you can see from the photo, it's being repurposed to provide a route for the electric trams that will take passengers from Merida to Teya, just outside Merida, to the new train station.
But the big question, as you can see by these posts and the huge number of comments on The Maya Train Mexico Facebook page is whether or not the train will be pet friendly. In fact, the admin of the page has commented that this is the most popular question. Here are some examples from the page.
So, is the Tren Maya pet friendly? The truth is that we don't know for sure. We know that many pet lovers have tried to find this information. We've tried through the government web address, through their social media and by asking 'those in the know'.
What we do know, is at the testing stage, the Tren Maya has not been pet friendly. While Mexico has laws regarding service dogs and we have no doubt those laws will be respected by the train operators, the situation for the average pet carer is still unknown.
Right now, the only public transport through the region available to those who depend on public transport services is the bus service. ADO bus service allows small dogs in carriers to be stored in the cargo area of the bus, but understandably, most dog guardians do not consider this an option.
As we know that Yucatan has been working towards becoming a leader in animal welfare and recognising the importance of the bond between people and their dogs, we are hoping that they have considered this issue. Certainly, we can share that there are rumours that the train will be pet friendly once it is operating fully. Whether there will be size requirements or restrictions or that dogs that can only travel in carriers remains a mystery.
We're hoping that Tren Maya will demonstrate some forward thinking. Over 70% of households in Mexico have a dog and so many people have to travel to visit family and friends. If they have a dog, the only option available to them is to have their own car or to pay for private transportation. To make that situation more equitable, providing a service to dog owners in the region would not only make a lot of local people incredibly happy but would also boost tourism as a lot of snowbirds would love to be able to visit other parts of the peninsula with their pets while they here.
We believe that with pet friendly policies in place, it would be possible to have a train service that matches those in Europe, where dog lovers travel freely with their furry companions, enjoying the wonderful opportunity to enjoy access to public train services if they behave responsibly and considerately.
If you hear anything, please let us know and if you happen to work for Tren Maya and have some inside information, we'd love to hear from you.
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