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Mexico’s new president promises major expansion of the Tren Maya

It has only been days since Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo was sworn in as Mexico’s new president, but she has certainly hit the ground running.

Among the initiatives proposed by President Sheinbaum is the expansion of the Tren Maya rail network, especially when it comes to key logistical hubs.

First female president of Mexico
Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo took charge as Mexico’s first female president in history on Oct. 1, 2024. Photo: Courtesy

One of these hubs is the port of Progreso, just to the north of Mérida, the state capital of Yucatán. 

However, several officials have also insinuated that the Tren Maya terminal in Progreso would eventually also carry passengers

But the plan does not stop there as Sheinbaum has also expressed her intention to expand the capacity of several other railways in the country, including the Transisthmic Corridor, which will connect the Gulf of Mexico with the Pacific Ocean. 

“The project will provide a decisive boost to the development of the Isthmus, the Mexican southeast, and the country’s economy in general since it will have the capacity to transport 1.4 million containers annually, end-to-end in less than six hours, cheaper and faster than the Panama Canal,” said Eduardo Romero to Mexico Business News.

Map of Mexico's Transisthmic Corridor
The Transisthmic Corridor slices through the states of Veracruz and Oaxaca. Graphic: Yucatán Magazine

Though the Transisthmic Corridor has already suffered setbacks caused by flooding and improper rail placement, during her inaugural speech President Sheinbaum assured the public the project will soon be up and running — bringing in millions for Mexico’s coffers.  

Earlier: New Tren Maya Route Links Mérida and Playa del Carmen

Despite the difficulties associated with the project, its viability seems especially key, given the decreasing capacity of the Panama Canal, which has largely been blamed on climate change

Since the Tren Maya was first decreed by Sheinbaum’s predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the project has been extremely divisive.

One of the most controversial aspects of the project has been a national security executive order, which in effect makes any judicial rulings against the project on any grounds null and void. 

Even critics of the Tren Maya admit to being surprised that the network was up and running before the end of the term of López Obrador, albeit nowhere near capacity. 

Resources from the Tren Maya have also been invested in the construction of hotels to be administered by the country’s armed forces, as well as improvements to several archaeological sites including Uxmal, Chichén Itzá, and Edzná

Progreso has already received large amounts of investment from the private and public sectors over the past several years.

Largest pier in the world in Progreso Yucatan, Mexico
Progreso’s port has proven to be a great success and boasts the world’s largest pier. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

The investments include the near completion of a dedicated overpass for cargo vehicles and the first stages of what is promised to be the largest shipyard in the American continent

Other key expansions in Mexico’s rail infrastructure include proposed routes connecting Mexico City with Queretaro, Puebla, and Veracruz, as well as passenger trains from Monterrey to the border town of Nuevo Laredo. 

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