Mexico's Maya Train could damage ancient caves, environmental expert warns
Mexico’s Maya Train rail project in the Yucatán Peninsula is raising concerns from environmental experts about potential damage to unique ecosystems including a network of subterranean caves.
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico — Mexico’s Maya Train rail project in the Yucatan Peninsula is raising concerns among environmental experts about potential damage to unique ecosystems including a network of subterranean caves.
One section of the 965-mile rail system in Mexico’s southeast, which connects the resort town of Cancun, opened for service late last year. The government has said the remaining routes of Tren Maya, as the flagship infrastructure project is called in Spanish, will begin running in February. But experts have cast doubt on the timeline.
Environmentalists have long raised worries about the train’s construction, which cuts through some of the world’s most unique ecosystems, including thousands of subterranean caves carved by water in the region’s soft limestone bedrock over millions of years.
Water expert Guillermo D’Christy carefully navigated on Saturday around massive stalagmites and stalactites to survey the concrete and steel pilings that have been installed in the fragile caves as part of the train’s construction.
“We are putting at risk a very important bio-cultural heritage for Mexico, and for humanity,” said D’Christy.
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