Thank you for articulating well the complex challenges and conundrum of the Tren Maya. Having lived in Yucatan for a year and a half...yes, the ecosystem is fragile there, there is still a lot of poverty among the Mayans, and the cenotes are a rare and precious thing, that I hope will not be adversely affected by the train. I cannot see how the train will bring more good than harm, but may it be so.
And a project estimated at 9.8 billion costing 28 billion instead...that is one heck of a cost overrun! AMLO has proclaimed how much economic growth it will bring....time will tell. Not seeing it yet. To my knowledge, most of the people hired for construction were NOT from the area...they were brought in and work for large companies based elsewhere in Mexico. One result of these workers coming in, at least in Progreso and I hear, in other parts of Yucatan has been to create more congestion and drive up housing prices. I have heard that various Mayan artifacts were discovered during the excavation and I hope they are handled appropriately. Thank you for this excellent article. PS I am a new Substacker myself and will be writing about my own adventures in Mexico and a whole lot more. I moved to the central highlands this past summer. Happy to find you writing here.
This project is the result of not paying attention to history. The main reason Mayan state cities collapsed is because they drained and used all the fertile soil, which is not that big in the Yucatán peninsula.
How this white elephant will bring economic prosperity to the region? No idea. So far, no small or medium construction local company has benefited in any way from this project.
Twenty years ago, Luis Leon Ruiz proposed to break up el D.F. and bring technology and archeology centers here.
Because farming would destroy the ecosystem most of the food has to be imported to the region. bringing aerospace and technology centers and universities with the capacity to use patents developed in heir centers, that would improve the economy of the region.
Integration of the maya population into the social and political systems is due. How many Maya, Zapotec, or other native groups do you see directing medical centers or as governors or as general directors on those big high tourism hotel chains?
From 1998-2000 my husband and I lived with our young children in Puerto Morelos (where we met Jeanine). Some of our fondest memories were loading up our old truck and exploring the jungle roads where we'd find remote and little-used cenotes. What fun we had swimming and exploring. This train will surely destroy all of that - if it's not destroyed already.
There's so much to be concerned about reading this account, Jeanine. When asked in surveys, etc what my # 1 concern is I always answer: The Environment. My list of concerns is long but without the basic protection of our environment, Nature, Earth-- the rest of the social/political issues will be postscripts when we've ruined the planet utterly. I don't know very much about this rail line and I'm glad to have read your post. It leaves me with lingering worries about the trees, water, wildlife...all of it.
Thanks, Jeanine for passing along this great piece.
Thank you for writing about this. I have had my doubts about this project even though I didn't have much information about it. Your article gave me a much broader picture and helped me understand why I had the doubts that I had. The train is now built, so I guess all we do is hope that it does benefit those it is promising to benefit.
Wow, fascinating. I love that you included both points of view. Over the years, I've learned to look at environmental topics like this with much more nuance after reading 'Apocalypse Never' by Michael Shellenberger (highly recommend it to all environmentalists). There's such a fine line between balancing contemporary economic structures and conserving the environment. It's usually more complex than what meets the eye. Through this book I learned that a good environment depends greatly upon a healthy economy and social stability. I see both sides of the issue here, and hopefully if they proceed, the outcome of this railway is successful in its intention to improve the economy and livelihoods of all people affected by it, most importantly safely and regulated. Something to keep in our prayers for Mexico and its natives.
Fascinating subject I knew nothing about, so thank you for brining it to my attention. Sounds very problematic, but sadly a little money talks louder than the voices of indigenous people (all over the world), so I am not too hopeful that changes will be made.
Nice overview of the project. I consider myself in the soft "anti Mayan train" camp. I'm not passionately against it, but just sort of think it may not have been a well thought-out project. If they had gone all-electric, I might be more in favor of it. Not that my opinion means anything lol.
Thanks for the restack!
Thank you for articulating well the complex challenges and conundrum of the Tren Maya. Having lived in Yucatan for a year and a half...yes, the ecosystem is fragile there, there is still a lot of poverty among the Mayans, and the cenotes are a rare and precious thing, that I hope will not be adversely affected by the train. I cannot see how the train will bring more good than harm, but may it be so.
And a project estimated at 9.8 billion costing 28 billion instead...that is one heck of a cost overrun! AMLO has proclaimed how much economic growth it will bring....time will tell. Not seeing it yet. To my knowledge, most of the people hired for construction were NOT from the area...they were brought in and work for large companies based elsewhere in Mexico. One result of these workers coming in, at least in Progreso and I hear, in other parts of Yucatan has been to create more congestion and drive up housing prices. I have heard that various Mayan artifacts were discovered during the excavation and I hope they are handled appropriately. Thank you for this excellent article. PS I am a new Substacker myself and will be writing about my own adventures in Mexico and a whole lot more. I moved to the central highlands this past summer. Happy to find you writing here.
This project is the result of not paying attention to history. The main reason Mayan state cities collapsed is because they drained and used all the fertile soil, which is not that big in the Yucatán peninsula.
How this white elephant will bring economic prosperity to the region? No idea. So far, no small or medium construction local company has benefited in any way from this project.
Twenty years ago, Luis Leon Ruiz proposed to break up el D.F. and bring technology and archeology centers here.
Because farming would destroy the ecosystem most of the food has to be imported to the region. bringing aerospace and technology centers and universities with the capacity to use patents developed in heir centers, that would improve the economy of the region.
Integration of the maya population into the social and political systems is due. How many Maya, Zapotec, or other native groups do you see directing medical centers or as governors or as general directors on those big high tourism hotel chains?
From 1998-2000 my husband and I lived with our young children in Puerto Morelos (where we met Jeanine). Some of our fondest memories were loading up our old truck and exploring the jungle roads where we'd find remote and little-used cenotes. What fun we had swimming and exploring. This train will surely destroy all of that - if it's not destroyed already.
I greatly appreciated this article. Excellent job covering such a complicated & controversial project!
There's so much to be concerned about reading this account, Jeanine. When asked in surveys, etc what my # 1 concern is I always answer: The Environment. My list of concerns is long but without the basic protection of our environment, Nature, Earth-- the rest of the social/political issues will be postscripts when we've ruined the planet utterly. I don't know very much about this rail line and I'm glad to have read your post. It leaves me with lingering worries about the trees, water, wildlife...all of it.
Thanks, Jeanine for passing along this great piece.
Thank you for writing about this. I have had my doubts about this project even though I didn't have much information about it. Your article gave me a much broader picture and helped me understand why I had the doubts that I had. The train is now built, so I guess all we do is hope that it does benefit those it is promising to benefit.
Wow, fascinating. I love that you included both points of view. Over the years, I've learned to look at environmental topics like this with much more nuance after reading 'Apocalypse Never' by Michael Shellenberger (highly recommend it to all environmentalists). There's such a fine line between balancing contemporary economic structures and conserving the environment. It's usually more complex than what meets the eye. Through this book I learned that a good environment depends greatly upon a healthy economy and social stability. I see both sides of the issue here, and hopefully if they proceed, the outcome of this railway is successful in its intention to improve the economy and livelihoods of all people affected by it, most importantly safely and regulated. Something to keep in our prayers for Mexico and its natives.
Fascinating subject I knew nothing about, so thank you for brining it to my attention. Sounds very problematic, but sadly a little money talks louder than the voices of indigenous people (all over the world), so I am not too hopeful that changes will be made.
Nice overview of the project. I consider myself in the soft "anti Mayan train" camp. I'm not passionately against it, but just sort of think it may not have been a well thought-out project. If they had gone all-electric, I might be more in favor of it. Not that my opinion means anything lol.
Nice subtitle 🙂