Mexico: President inaugurated controversial interoceanic train

In Mexico, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Friday inaugurated the Isthmus of Tehuantepec train, the narrowest strip of land in the southeastern stretch between the states of Veracruz and Oaxaca. This is the first component of the interoceanic corridor, one of the major infrastructure projects that the current government wants.

Mexico wants to offer a cheaper alternative to the Panama Canal. AFP - HANDOUT

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In concrete terms, this railway, which connects the ports of Salina Cruz on the Pacific side and Coatzacoalcos on the Gulf of Mexico, connects the two oceans. It is somewhat intended for passenger transport but mainly for the transport of goods.

Indeed, the first stage of a major development plan that involved the installation of at least a thousand factories along the rails, the interoceanic train was an open door to the industrialization of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and aimed to boost the economic development of the region.

"These species of animals are going to go extinct »

But it is at the heart of a controversy and raises opposition from indigenous communities. The scenario of this transformation is indeed not wanted by everyone among the local population.

Some indigenous communities denounce illegal evictions due to the works and several irregularities in the project. "We are not against development, we just want this development to be in accordance with the laws and regulations that exist and to protect the natural environment," said Gerardo Aldeco, spokesman for a collective of associations in the state of Oaxaca.

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In addition to the social consequences, these opponents first of all regrouped when they saw the first damage caused by the works, because the area also lives in several protected species, including felines such as the jaguar. "There are endemic species, such as the purple snail, for example. It only lives in the isthmus, in the part where they are doing the work, and certainly there will be a strong impact and these species of animals will become extinct," he adds.

Among the sectors hoping to take advantage of future hubs around trains are the automotive, pharmaceutical and petrochemical industries.

This project of 300 km of rails built on a former railway line is certainly a rival to the Panama Canal which, because of the drought, does not have enough water to allow all the ships to pass, but this rail link will be just an alternative and will not be able to replace the canal.

Shipowners are first and foremost carriers of goods at sea, they do not necessarily need complementary rail solutions. But it can be a solution.

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Paul Tourret, Director of the Nantes Saint-Nazaire Higher Institute of Maritime Economics

Justine Fontaine

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