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The track from Maravatio to Acambaro was finished in February, 1883. The distance is 63 kilometres. The line of the railway is several miles to the eastward of the old diligence-road. The stations are, Zirizicuaro (23•34 kilometres), Tarandácuao (31•34 kilometres), San José (41•34 kilometres), and Acambaro (63 kilometres). The region traversed by the route is not much cultivated, and there are only three hamlets along the line. Basaltic rock covers the country, and there is but little vegetation besides the nopal, huisachi, mesquite, and pirú trees. Much wheat and Indian corn could be produced here, but at present very little is grown. The train reaches Acambaro in about three hours.

The town lies in a broad valley, and is destined to increase in population as soon as the two branches of the Mexican National Railway are finished. One branch extends northward to Celaya, via Salvatierra, a distance of 42½ miles, and thence via San Luis Potosí and Monterey to the frontier; the other runs to Morelia, 57 miles distant, and thence to Pátzcuaro and Manzanillo on the Pacific. The branch to Celaya was completed in July, 1883. If the tourist does not wish to travel farther westward, he can take the train to Celaya, which is on the line of the Mexican Central Railway, and return to the capital by the latter road, thus making a round trip from Mexico that will give him an excellent idea of the agricultural and mineral resources of the region traversed by the two principal American trunk lines. The division of the National Railway to Morelia was opened on September 12, 1883.