Construction begins in Progreso on a new dock for the Mayan Train
State and federal authorities have confirmed that work on a new dock to bring freight to the Mayan Train has begun in Progreso.
The dock, named “Beacon,” is being designed to handle shipments of 20,000 tons of material at a time.
The new facility is planned to work in tandem with the port in Veracruz in order to speed up the delivery of construction materials from the project.
Last June it was announced that an additional 50 kilometers of track would be laid through Umán and Progreso.
Environmentalists argue that adding rail lines through Progreso is irresponsible without having first conducted a thorough environmental assessment.
However, work on this section of the rail network has yet to begin.
Earlier: Experts on the ground share doubts about the Mayan Train
Given several delays and the fact that the project’s deadline is only a little over a year away, there is a good deal of skepticism regarding the Mayan Train’s completion.
This is especially true due to the fact that the project, described as a pet project of the current president, is likely to be abandoned once his term is up in 2024.
Progreso is already home to extensive cargo infrastructure, including a pier stretching more than four miles into the ocean — the longest of its kind in the world.
Last year, Fincantieri, one of the world’s largest shipbuilders, announced plans to build the largest shipyard on the American continent in Progreso.
However, Fincantieri’s commitment to building the shipyard is contingent on the completion of overhauls to Progreso’s existing infrastructure — which Gov. Mauricio Vila says is well on track.
Senior Editor Carlos Rosado van der Gracht is a Mexican expedition/Canadian photographer and adventure leader. Born in Mérida, Carlos holds multimedia, philosophy, and translation degrees from universities in Mexico, Canada and Norway.
