Riding Tren Maya, Mexico’s Controversial New Train

On December 15th, 2023, the brand new intercity railway in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula opened. First announced by President Lopez Obrador in 2018, this new railway is now partially open - but it has been anything but smooth. Tren Maya is a source of much controversy, because it neglects and even destroys ancient burial grounds, archaeological sites, the rainforest, and important water sources. Find out what it is like to ride this new train, why some people are happy with it, and why some are not.

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Date of filming: December 21, 2023
Camera: iPhone 14

The Music in this video comes from the YouTube Audio Library. Specifically, I searched for tracks using the terms: “Maya” and “Yucatán”


Tren Maya tickets: eticket.mx

Timetable: https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/nacio...

Sites used for research:

https://amp.theguardian.com/global-de...

https://www.midnight-trains.com/post/...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-...

https://www.theyucatantimes.com/2023/...

https://oceanographicmagazine.com/fea...

Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:22 Welcome to Cancun
0:57 Cancun Airport Station
1:34 Tren Maya: the Basics
2:30 Buying tickets
3:36 Alstom X’trapolis
4:06 Boarding the train
6:05 Departing Cancun
7:51 Seat Review and interior tour
9:37 Toilet and Cafe
10:02 Rushed Construction
11:42 Environmental Issues: Rainforest Destruction
13:14 Environmental Issues: Threatened Water
14:00 Cultural Issues: Archaeological Destruction
15:49 Evictions
16:19 Arriving at Mérida
17:27 The Train Departs
18:38 Mérida Teya station
19:56 Electric Buses
20:38 Mérida
22:02 The Return Trip, Final Thoughts