The initial idea put forward by President Maldonado in 2015 was that the Mexican train known as "La Bestia" (The Beast), would enter Guatemalan soil through Tecun Uman, where it would receive cargo to be transported from Central America to Mexico and the US.

Elperiodico.com.gt reports that "...This month the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation (SCT) of Mexico also canceled the concession of the train to the company operating more than 1,500 kilometers of network in the south of the country."

Erwin Gonzalez, manager of Ferrovías, said that "... the project could take six months to complete, because only studies exist. It will take about six weeks to validate and prepare an international tender to hire a company that will handle the construction, which could be done in four or five months, explained Gonzalez .... it could be ready in early 2017, if they are able to meet those deadlines. "

The Maldonado administration had planned for the train to start operating in December 2015.

Source: elperiodico.com.gt

More on this topic

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March 2019

The long-awaited railway connection between the two countries depends on the rehabilitation of the Doctor Rodolfo Robles bridge in Ayutla, San Marcos, which would be done this year.

According to the Guatemalan Ministry of Communications, under current conditions the bridge cannot support the load of a locomotive and using that section would be a high risk.

Guatemala - Mexico Railway Interconnection

March 2016

Although the start date had been was agreed as December 2015, it has now been announced that construction of the roads that connect will Tecun Uman with Chiapas, Mexico, will start in April.

In October 2015 the company Ferrovías announced that on December 15 it would start the interconnection with the Mexican Railway Company Chiapas-Mayab, with the aim of "... activating that line so that in the next five years several sections in the country can be extended with profits generated from this first phase. "

Guatemala-Mexico Freight Train Reactivated

October 2015

It has been announced that as of December 15th the Tecún Uman San Marcos line will connect with the mexican Compañía de Ferrocarriles Chiapas-Mayab in order to transport cargo from Guatemala.

The Mexican train known as "The Beast", will enter onto Guatemalan soil through Tecún Uman, where it will receive cargo to be transported from Central America to Mexico and the United States.

Proposals for Freight Train in Guatemala

January 2014

The government is considering various options for the revival of rail freight in the country.

The Government is considering two options to revive freight railroad in the country. The first is the creation of a state company that would operate under the public-private partnership model and the second is a concession in tranches awarded to different companies.