#tren-maya — Public Fediverse posts

On the economical benefits - well, it's just like any railway. A frequent, regular and reliable service will bring the people to rely on it. Be it for business, studies or leisure. The peninsula is more than tourism. Cancun and Merida have about a million inhabitants each. I see a huge potential. #TrenMaya will have to live it up to it.

For European tourists in particular, I believe an integrated plane+train ticket would be interesting, as many use Cancun (direct flights from AMS, FRA, CDG, MAD, LHR, ...) as an entry gate to explore the region. Will we see a #TrenMaya codeshare anytime soon?

Now for tourism, the operator has started to deliver "packages" including multi day itineraries with fine dining and the visits of cultural attractions. It seems to be successful and I hope this can expand. Let's remember the tourist population is very diverse. Americans and Europeans have completely different travel habits - said a local guide to me. "Americans want to be taken care of whereas Europeans want to explore". #TrenMaya

The key to noticeable #environmental benefits I'd argue will be to win over tourists and locals from buses and cars. Now I just wonder how you actually prove that, as the bus system is completely private and will likely not share much data. In the end we need to be lucid enough to acknowledge that more ways generate more traffic. So let's also wonder what would happen without the train: even more roads across the peninsula's fragile #ecosystem? #TrenMaya

Regarding the environmental benefits...well let's hope electric overhead wire is up and running soon, as I am little surprised to see Diesel all along the line so far. The trains are ready to operate electric. A train lasts for at least 35 years, often longer, so in terms of resources, it's a more responsible option than any car. #TrenMaya

Let's also remember what a new train means in terms of #accessibility and #barrierfree #inclusive travel. Step free access, escalators, ramps, signage, announcements. Space in the waiting area. Bus travel in Mexico has none of these attributes. #TrenMaya does.

Another social benefit I see revolves around safety. Both in terms of road accident risks and crime prevention. I have unfortunately witnessed theft on overland buses in the area and with the amount of guards on duty in both stations and trains, I am pretty sure this would not have happened on the train. While I found driving in Mexico to be better than other countries like say... Iran, it was not the best experience either. #TrenMaya

Information on subsidies is not easily available, nor is it clear to me where #TrenMaya stands in terms of ramp up. I could see that some routes further south, in particular #Chetumal to #Palenque only has one train a day. That is not a good way to manage your assets. Merida - Cancun - Tulum seems to reach a healthy number of services. So overall, I cannot judge the financial viability of the project but can only hope for the ramp up in services and passengers to continue.

For ridership to be at a sustainable level, it needs to be affordable while limiting losses/support from the public purse, which is always sparse. The pricing system of #TrenMaya distinguishes between locals, nationals and international travellers. It also distinguishes various groups that get discounts (students, pensioners, ...). The tourist fare is comparable to regional ticketing in Europe, maybe a bit less. We paid 50€ for Merida-Cancun 3h35 trip in first class (aforementioned promo fare).

So let's retain the #TrenMaya has some intermodal integration, but it's currently insufficient and has to be improved. On the other hand, I also need to revise a bit my #Eurocentric view on city connectivity rationales: the majority of people does not live in the picturesque-patina-chic colonial city center of Merida. That's where the #European tourists go.

Imagine the land to be bought back, the number of owners filing lawsuits and resentment towards the project. So let's accept that a new project in an emerging economy will rarely reach the center. So the obvious answer is a robust transport system is needed in these towns. #TrenMaya is far from perfect and there is huge improvement potential. The information on bus connections online is vague and the service poorly advertised or explained. But it has the merit to exist.

Obvious topics is ridership and whether the railway serves the local population and visitors. Ridership is on a steep rise: on both of my trips the train had good loading numbers. The mid day service was 80-90% full (see my previous post). The early morning one rather 20-30%, but let's remember early morning services are also not necessarily busy in Europe - seats filled up with every station approaching #Cancún. #TrenMaya

Moving on to more social issues, starting with the cost of the project: I do not know any mega project that stayed within its initial budget. Building the #Paris metro was certainly not very profitable for its initiators, but we all know building railways is not about short term profit but about delivering social, environmental and economical added value to our societies and the planet. So let's focus on these potential benefits and where they're being contested. #TrenMaya

A second major environmental concern is for the region's fragile #cenote systems. #Yucatán peninsula does not have rivers, but water infiltrates in the porous limestone and converges in natural basins and wells where water is drawn from. I can easily imagine how a government with limited means and exposure to corruption would neglect an in-depth analysis of the impact of the #TrenMaya project on such precious ecosystem.

Regarding the increased risk of roadkill - can someone explain to me the rationale between 10-20 trains passing each day vs a few thousand cars and trucks? The animals crossing possibilities is of course a very important component of the project's impact mitigation. #TrenMaya

#TrenMaya has encountered up until today massive opposition, criticism and questioning for environmental concerns as well as its social added value to local population. No mega project is perfect, they all have AN impact (though which?) and I don't want to say this project is pure gold. Yet not all criticism I heard makes sense to me as I am on my second trip and reflect and research on it. A little thread:

I started to write a thread on the impact on the region of #TrenMaya and it's starting to have the length of a journal article. So for a short post: transfer to #Cancún city centre works, signage in the station is meh, this early morning service was 30% full and the coffee machine works. More later.

Snapshots from the autopista

#TrenMaya #Yucatán #QuintanaRoo

The bus ends at the #Estación de la Plancha. Right next to a former rail yard which has been converted into a top notch park with a Museo de los #Ferrocarilles 🥰😇

#TrenMaya #Mérida #MéridaYucatán #Yucatán #TransportePublico

This bus is a bit like #TrenMaya. Not a total fail, has good intentions. And needs a little bit more care to truly unfold its true potential.
Why? Because it runs irregularly and is medium well advertised. But it has power sockets, a WhatsApp only WiFi, a non functional passenger information system and is electric. 🙃 #IE-Tram #Yucatán #ElectricBus #Irizar #transportepublico #Mexico #Mérida #MéridaYucatán

Now I went to the Estacion de la Plancha in Merida to check out the bus service to #MeridaTeya #TrenMaya station. Now with ten irregular departures a day, it's better than nothing. But it's not enough to make it easy and ready to use...

A little video to finish

#TrenMaya #Xinbal Cancún - Palenque entering #Valladolid station

Now #MeridaTeya station left quite an impression. Similar design features to the others, but this station is actually being used. Cafés, shops, a #TrenMaya souvenir shop, busy waiting areas. Again mostly locals, so one cannot say this is a tourist only project.

Passenger info system at the carriage end is helpful but too small, one cannot read what it says unless being right below. #TrenMaya

#Tixkokob - not much to report from what we can see from the train. #TrenMaya

The (Mexican) people in front of us had a ticket from Chichen Itza to #Palenque, a 7h45 journey. There this train makes total sense in terms of comfort compared to a bus.

I could see their tickets because one can loom through to your neighbour in front. That's something Deutsche Bahn changed in recent ICE 1st class layouts for more privacy.

#TrenMaya

The WiFi on #TrenMaya did not work. If it's linked to local network coverage, it's not a surprise...The train employs a lot of people, on board I counted four #TrenMaya staff, two national guards and two cleaners who wiped the floor while on the ride and collected trash.

Next stop #Izamal. What you see out of the window is mostly green.
#TrenMaya

After #ChichenItzá the queue in the cafeteria reduced and I had the opportunity to take a picture of second class. It was full.
I forgot to take a picture of the menu, but they basically have snacks, sandwiches, coffee, tea and cold drinks.

#TrenMaya

#ChichénItzá is located next to #Mexico's major tourist attraction, the #Mayan ruins of the site. From the station it's not far to get to the site's entry, but the footpath doesn't seem ready, so a bus shuttle is needed. Most people who got off had been on the train when we boarded, so I guess they were mostly day tourists from #Cancún, for whom this is indeed a much more comfortable experience than a bus. For us staying in Valladolid, taxi/collectivo was easier than taking the train. #TrenMaya