TREN MAYA – a detailed description

DISCLAMER: The following blog post will outline our experience riding Tren Maya from the Merida Teya Station to the San Francisco de Campeche Station. Please note that Tren Maya is evolving and the experiences I am sharing with you today may not be your experiences tomorrow. 

The first item of business was their pricing. Their website gives you the option in either English or Spanish. We purchased our tickets online from the Tren Maya website. The prices on the website may be different from the prices you pay directly at the ticket office at a train station or at the Tren Maya office building in north Merida on the main highway between the Galerias and the Harbor shopping malls. For example, we purchased two adult ride-trip tickets for premier seating, for a total cost of $3,304 pesos. However, if we had opted to purchase our tickets at the office or train station, our tickets may have been at a reduced cost. They have various prices based on your status (premier class is based on citizenship, tourist class is based on citizenship, where you live in Mexico, and whether you have an INAPAM card or are a student or teacher) and your destination. The pricing categories have been a sore spot for travelers due to confusion. Some permanent and temporary residents say they have gotten the national tourist or local tourist price.

My final observation about ticketing is about seat selection. They do have large windows, however, when purchasing your ticket, it is challenging to determine what a window is, and what is wall. If you are the type of person who relishes looking out the window and enjoying the view, be mindful of your ticket selection. See image. 

Once you have purchased your tickets and are at the station, the fun part commences.

The Merida Teya train station has several shops now, including Go-Mart, OXXO, the Tren Maya souvenir shop, coffee shops, etc.  There are two separate restroom facilities in the main train station.  Premier ticket holders have access to the premier class lounge with tables, comfortable seating, and air conditioning. However, this room was not open during our departure.

Tren Maya has security check points just like at the airport. Although you are not required to remove your shoes, you must put your luggage on a conveyor belt for screening, along with any other items you may have (purse, laptop, watches, etc.). You will be required to show your identification. We presented our permanent residency cards, but passports are also acceptable. I would like to make an observation about the security checkpoint. At no time did I see any of the security guards assist anyone lift their luggage onto the belt. This may be an issue if you are not able to lift your luggage yourself. This situation may be different at other stations, or if a person is differently abled. 

Once you are through security, you have your ticket checked by agents (you can have paper or electronic tickets). The people who check your ticket and identification will be the individuals that will direct you to stand at a certain stop on the platform. You then go up the escalator to the train platform.

The platform has limited seating, and there is no seating at the location on the platform where you wait for the train. The platform may be in direct sunlight (depending on time of day), so bring your hat, umbrella, etc. In addition, there are no restrooms on the platform, but two separate restroom facilities in the train station after the security checkpoint. 

When boarding and leaving the train, be particularly mindful getting your luggage on and off the train. There is a gap between the train and the platform. So, when you are getting on the train, you will need to lift your luggage over this gap.  Same as when you depart. Again, I did not witness any guards assisting anyone with their luggage over this gap. It is not a large gap, but you will need to be aware when getting your luggage over that space. There is a special compartment where your luggage is stored while you are traveling.

Now let us talk about the train itself. The seats on Tren Maya, regardless of your ticket status, do not recline. In the premier class the seat bottom pushes forward, and the back of the seat slides down a couple of inches, so it simulates a reclining motion. The headrest is not mobile, and the seats are very firm, comfortable, but firm. The footrest folds up so you can extend your legs.

National Guard officers were present and highly visible. Power outlets were available with one regular 3-prong plug and 2 USB-A plugs. However, there was no WIFI, although this service was marketed as part of our ticket price. There are no seat belts or cup holders. There was a slight indentation on the tray table for a cup, just like on an airplane. There were several visible security cameras, and a place to put your snacks, books, phone, smart devices, on the back of the seat in front of you. The cleaning crew kept the car spotless as we traveled. They continuously collected trash, but we bought our own trash bag and had everything bagged up and ready to go once we departed the train. If you plan on napping, take an eye mask along because there are no window treatments. And to make your journey a little more comfortable, the armrest moved up and down. There is a car with snacks for purchase. If you purchased a premier ticket, depending on the distance you are traveling, your ticket will indicate the type of snacks included in your ticket price. For example, since we were only traveling a short distance, we were eligible for a beverage and chips. However, some travelers received a box lunch because they were traveling further.

Finally, the train is very cold, so bring a sweater, jacket, blanket, or beach towel.

Our return trip was from the Tren Maya San Franciso de Campeche Station. The premier lounge was open and afforded us the opportunity to enjoy an air-conditioned room, with tables, comfortable seating, desk, sink, counter space, and several charging stations.  The Campeche Station has similar amenities to the Merida Teya Station.  The main difference is that the main station in Merida Teya is air conditioned, while it is not air conditioned at the Campeche station.  The return trip proved to have the same experiences as our initial trip.

All-in-all it was an enjoyable experience, and we will definitely ride the Tren Maya again.