Mexico's Maya Train, a tourist railway in the Yucatan Peninsula, has commenced operation on the first segment of the line.

A 473-kilometer segment connecting the coastal city of Campeche and the famed resort of Cancun opened on Friday.

Addressing the opening ceremony at Campeche Station, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador hailed the project as "the most important public work in the world."

When completed, the loop-shaped railway will be more than 1,500 kilometers long. Reuters news agency says it will cost over 28 billion dollars in total.

Along the line are popular tourist sites such as Cancun and Mayan ruins designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Hopes are high that the railway will energize the local economy. Its construction is expected to generate more than 100,000 new jobs and boost tourist numbers.

The Mexican government plans to complete the entire line by the end of February next year.

However, some people have voiced concerns that the line's construction is damaging the rich natural environment of the peninsula, including its underground limestone caves.