Mayan Train: the megaproject in southeastern Mexico
It will travel a distance of approximately 1,500 km and will pass through the states of Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo.
Improvement in the quality of life, protection of the environment and sustainable development, is what the “Mayan Train” promises, one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in the country.
The southeastern part of Mexico has a wide variety of tourist attractions, however, not all destinations have been fully developed, which has left many communities abandoned.
With the Mayan Train, it is intended that this change, increasing the number of visitors, in a sustainable way.
A new future
One of the main objectives of the Mayan Train is to strengthen the economy of the region. It is intended that the investment in this project translate into well-being for the people of the southeast, generating approximately half a million jobs in different areas throughout the seven sections of the work.
In addition, as additional benefits, it will contribute to local communities with the improvement of urban infrastructure and public services associated with the project. Productive projects in the agricultural sector, construction materials and fuel transportation may be the most benefited by the train.
Community empowerment
Indigenous peoples and communities are key and permanent actors in the development of this project to achieve well-being, development and respect for their fundamental rights.
This goes further because it also seeks to promote gender equality, by promoting the rights of indigenous women and men for greater educational, labor and political inclusion, encouraging their participation in all stages of the project, including the Indigenous Consultation Process. .
Environmental and archaeological protection
There is a responsibility for the rehabilitation and conservation of natural resources: soil, water, wild flora and fauna.
The Mayan train is the most efficient and least polluting transportation model to conserve and take advantage of the ecosystem services of the southeast in a sustainable way.
If we talk about the archaeological field, with the Mayan train, the cultural heritage of the Mayans, their inhabitants, language, variety of accents, even their traditional agricultural practices that regenerate wildlife and coexist in harmony with the endless number of native species will be highlighted.
One of the main goals of the construction of the Mayan Train is the archaeological rescue of the region. More than 80 archaeological operations, together with the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), will carry out the tasks of rescuing the material heritage found in all the kilometers of the line.
As part of the efforts, sites of cultural interest will continue to be sought and measures will be taken to protect and promote them as tourist destinations due to their historical importance. All this always hand in hand with the indigenous communities, as legitimate heirs of this heritage.
The Mayan Train project will be ready in 2023. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) assured that “we are advancing according to the program” to conclude the construction of the Mayan Train in December 2023.
