Mexico commemorates Tren Maya anniversary with new postage stamp

Mexico’s postal service, Correos de México, has issued a new commemorative postage stamp celebrating the year since the Tren Maya was officially inaugurated.

The first commemorative sheet has 25 stamps that, when in a single sheet, depict a Mayan Train collage and will have a circulation of 750,000. Ariadna B. Gómez and José Briseño led its intricate design for the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena).

Violeta Abreu, head of the Mexican postal service, reported that the new stamps can be purchased starting Monday, Dec. 16, 2024 at post offices across Mexico and online through the Correos de México website.

The stamp features an image of the modern Tren Maya train traversing the Yucatán Peninsula, showcasing the region’s natural beauty and cultural heritage. It symbolizes the project’s aim to connect communities and boost tourism while respecting the environment.

The artwork is based on the four pillars of the project: first, the benefits of the train for locals; second, the environmental focus; third, the tribute to Mexican and military engineering and the tireless efforts of the hands that have worked on the tracks; and fourth, an example of the order and discipline that characterizes the Mexican Armed Forces.

Also Sunday, in her first visit to Quintana Roo as president, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo officially cut the ribbon for sections 6 (Tulum-Chetumal) and 7 (Chetumal-Escárcega) of the rail line.

At the Fisherman’s Fountain, a monument that adorns the Bahía Boulevard of the capital of Quintana Roo, the president was accompanied by the governor of Quintana Roo, Mara Lezama, and her counterparts Óscar Ramírez, from Chiapas; Javier May, from Tabasco; Layda Sansores, from Campeche, and Joaquín Díaz Mena, from Yucatán, as well as members of the federal cabinet.

The Tren Maya is a 1,554-kilometer (965-mile) intercity railway that traverses the Yucatan Peninsula, connecting five states: Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatan, and Quintana Roo. The project has been celebrated for its potential to bring economic development to the region and criticized for its environmental impact and potential disruption to indigenous communities.

The commemorative stamp is available in denominations of 7 and 25 pesos. A special mini-sheet featuring the stamp has also been released. These stamps are expected to be popular with collectors and those interested in commemorating this significant infrastructure project in Mexican history.

The issuance of the stamp is part of a broader effort to promote the Tren Maya and highlight its significance for Mexico. The government hopes the railway will become a symbol of national pride and progress.