Environmentalist Surveying Mexico’s Maya Train Warns of Damage to Ancient Caves

By Paola Chiomante

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico – The Maya Train rail project in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is facing scrutiny from environmental experts who are concerned about potential harm to unique ecosystems, including a network of subterranean caves.

A section of the 1,554-km rail system in the southeast of the country, which connects the resort town of Cancun, opened for service late last year. The government has announced plans for the remaining routes to begin operations in February; however, experts have expressed skepticism regarding this timeline.

Environmentalists have long voiced their concerns about the train’s construction, which traverses some of the world’s most distinctive ecosystems, including thousands of underground caves formed over millions of years in the region’s soft limestone bedrock.

Water expert Guillermo D’Christy recently navigated the fragile caves to examine the concrete and steel supports that have been installed as part of the train’s construction.

"We are putting at risk a very important bio-cultural heritage for Mexico, and for humanity," D’Christy stated. He expressed apprehension that the vibrations from the construction machinery and the trains may damage the cave ceilings.

"This ceiling is going to gradually become thinner and thinner. It is falling. It is collapsing," he added.

The government’s environmental impact assessment for this segment of the project acknowledged the risk of collapse in the engineering of the tracks and indicated that a prevention program will be in place.