Tren Maya

[BRT]

And of course those shuttle buses will run on time and frequently enough. Sure. The problem of the stations being located some distance from the archaeological sites and from the centers of towns (think Merida and Campeche) is a bit like the problem we in the US have in some of our smaller cities outside of the East Coast corridor; you still have to drive a car to/from the train stations or take some kind of shuttle bus, so many people just forgo the train option and drive end to end. I suspect a substantial number of tourists will still opt for private vans and buses that whisk them directly between their origin and destination.

The advantage of trains is that someone else can ride them and reduce congestion for us.

 

[WillieJustice]

My wife and I like going to Puerto Morelos. The schedule doesn't work getting there, but maybe for going back to Cancun to head home. Our thought is that it will wipe out the Puerto Morelos we have known, because it is a stop on the train. I dunno. The Tren Maya hasn't been running long enough.

We both like trains, so there is that. Wrecking caves is a different thing that we don't like.

 

[34109411]

I did not expect this project to actually proceed. I fully thought my fellow cave instructors and guides were being alarmist and reactionary. Think about that: I thought people were being reactionary. (For those of you who don't know me... I'm pretty bloody reactionary.)

"A train? Through the jungle? Over limestone? That shifts every time it so much as drizzles which, I'm not sure whether you know, is not great for train tracks that rely on precision? Nah, nothing to worry about."

Worst case scenario, I thought, 2km of it would be built, AMLO would get his picture taken riding the single car ever commissioned for it, and then it would all be forgotten about after wasting billions of pesos when he leaves office in a few years.

Turns out I was wrong. It is very, very, very something to worry about.

Over the last year or so a great deal of development has been happening, clearing huge swathes through the jungle all over the peninsula.

It is ******* with the ecosystem both in terms of wildlife displacement and damage to the ground and aquifer.
It is ******* consistently unearthing archeological remains of significance... which seems cool, but the priority is to get these finds the **** out of the way as quickly as possible, not to study them.
It is ******* with communities as "right of way" and "eminent domain" are claimed left and right where peoples' homes or entire villages already exist.

And, most importantly, it is ******* with the cenotes that riddle the entire peninsula.

A recent redirect of the train (It was supposed to go down the middle of the highway in this area until the hoteliers had a ******* conniption fit) sends it a few kilometers back through the jungle...

Directly over dozens of the cenotes we love and dive all the time. One of the most significant being Dos Ojos.... possibly the single most frequently dived cenotes in the area - possibly one of the most frequently dived sites on the planet. The place where hundreds and thousands of people every year fall in love with this place and the fascinating and unique hydrogeology of the Yucatan.

The train's path cuts RIGHT through the middle of Ejido Jacinto Pat's property and only a couple hundred meters away from Dos Ojos itself. DIRECTLY ON TOP of Xunaan Ha, Nicte Ha, and Dreamgate.

I like public transit. I'm a huge advocate of cutting down on the fossil fuel waste of every individual driving their own car and cutting down on the congestion. Mass transit is important and valuable for a litany of reasons.

In cities. Or in places where there is solid, stable ground in open areas. Not through the goddamn jungle which is a place of shifting ground and abundant, delicately balanced biodiversity.

This is going to be like juggling chainsaws and puppies while balancing on a house of cards. It is only a matter of time before a train rumbles open a hole in the ground, falls in, destroys an entire cave system, and drowns 100 people. To say nothing of simply jumping off the tracks when the rails go slightly out of true because of a recent hurricane or there's just a big ******* snake sunning itself on the metal.

Not to mince words:
****.
This.
Train.

You're going to hear quite a lot about this harebrained nonsense from me over the coming months. There is (thank god) a LOT of opposition to this project from the local community and there is some discussion about what can be done about it.

If you've got any ideas, we're keen to hear them.

View attachment 705228

Oh forget about it for the cenotes it s done and over. Your talking avout development in the last year or so ? I was living down there from 2005-2008 i could see already the impact of golf, resort and real estate development. Don't even thing to stand against these mega corporations. 20 years ago it was going downhill already!

My first dive was in No Hoch Na Shish i was blown away. Following my journey in this area i dove among other with Robbie S and is guide and many other that i dont recall the name over a period of 3 years. I visit El Pit, Angelita, car wash grand cenotoe, el cielo, dos ojos, azul etc and many others that i forget the name. I could not believe back then that nothing was in place to protect all this.

Unesco decide to name Chichenitza a world heritage site they should have done the same with all the area along the 307.

The way they do business in mexico the way they look at the law or it s application is far far away from what you might stand for or not. What might be a no brainer for us regarding the building of a train and the impact on the ecosystem is two views in the complete opposite. (would like to know what happen in mexico when you talk to much or create opposition ? It might give you some hints why this will not change)


I was well aware back then that the preservation of the cenotes where not a priority for the state of quintana roo. I held a diploma in tourism and hotel management so my perception was always quiet clear.

Same goes for all the area from tulum to xcalak or from cancun to isla holbox. Give it few years and its all gone. I was living mainly in Playacar back in the days. You could even imagine how it was before compare to today.

In parallel PDC let's say 5 th avenue was kind of nice in 05. Last time i went was like in 2016. Oh gosh i could not believe it how much it lost is charm.

Between you and me it might affect us cause we like these dark place but the reality is that the guy flying from houston or LA for a family vacation he doesn't give a f... about it. Don't rely on locals to shift things or local authorities it's pass over them. They will go where and put energy in what strive the economy and bring them cash. Unfortunately cenotes doesn't fall into this category.

Oh for the train going down in a cenotes no worries they will put concrete afterwards.

Cheers be safe

 

[flymolo]

Oh forget about it for the cenotes it s done and over. Your talking avout development in the last year or so ? I was living down there from 2005-2008 i could see already the impact of golf, resort and real estate development. Don't even thing to stand against these mega corporations. 20 years ago it was going downhill already!

My first dive was in No Hoch Na Shish i was blown away. Following my journey in this area i dove among other with Robbie S and is guide and many other that i dont recall the name over a period of 3 years. I visit El Pit, Angelita, car wash grand cenotoe, el cielo, dos ojos, azul etc and many others that i forget the name. I could not believe back then that nothing was in place to protect all this.

Unesco decide to name Chichenitza a world heritage site they should have done the same with all the area along the 307.

The way the do business in mexico the way they look at the law or it s application is far far away from what you might stand for or not. What might be a no brainer for us regarding the building of a train and the impact on the ecosystem is two views in the complete opposite. (would like to know what happen in mexico when you talk to much or create opposition ? It might give you some hints why this will not change)


I was well aware back then that the preservation of the cenotes where not a priority for the state of quintana roo. I held a diploma in tourism and hotel management so my perception was always quiet clear.

Same goes for all the area from tulum to xcalak or from cancun to isla holbox. Give it few years and its all gone. I was living mainly in Playacar back in the days. You could even imagine how it was before compare to today.

In parallel PDC let's say 5 th avenue was kind of nice in 05. Last time i went was like in 2016. Oh gosh i could not believe it how much it lost is charm.

Between you and me it might affect us cause we like these dark place but the reality is that the guy flying from houston or LA for a family vacation he doesn't give a f... about it. Don't rely on locals to shift things or local authorities it's pass over them. They will go where and put energy in what strive the economy and bring them cash. Unfortunately cenotes doesn't fall into this category.

Oh for the train going down in a cenotes no worris they will put concrete afterwards.

Cheers be safe

it's sad but i think you are probably right on the mark

 

[BRT]

My wife and I like going to Puerto Morelos. The schedule doesn't work getting there, but maybe for going back to Cancun to head home. Our thought is that it will wipe out the Puerto Morelos we have known, because it is a stop on the train. I dunno. The Tren Maya hasn't been running long enough.

We both like trains, so there is that. Wrecking caves is a different thing that we don't like.

I spent several weeks in Puerto Morelos in January and February. Never saw the train or tracks.

 

[Underwater Tourist]

Not only Robbie's discussion on fractures and how everything is interconnected is absolutely amazing, but he also touches on tren maya:

Sidemount Pros — Episode #85 Robbie Schmittner - "Understanding the Caves of Yucatan"

Hey, great to bring you Episode 85 with the support of our sponsor XDEEP and the patrons of Speaking Sidemount. Massive thanks to both for their support of the show that makes all of this possible. It was super cool to do this episode with renowned cave explorer Robbie Schmittner. Robbie has spent

www.sidemountpros.com

 

[WillieJustice]

I spent several weeks in Puerto Morelos in January and February. Never saw the train or tracks.

It is somewhere nearby. Supposedly. We never saw it or any construction, either. So there is that.

 

[BRT]

It is somewhere nearby. Supposedly. We never saw it or any construction, either. So there is that.

I checked the map. Station is out on the Ruta de los Cenotes. Not exactly convenient. I'm good with that.

 

[Lorenzoid]

I checked the map. Station is out on the Ruta de los Cenotes. Not exactly convenient. I'm good with that.

That seems to be a problem with several stations—too far from the town or archaeological site.

 

[WillieJustice]

I checked the map. Station is out on the Ruta de los Cenotes. Not exactly convenient. I'm good with that.

It would be a cab ride, that's for sure.