RIVIERA MAYA, Mexico — The government of Belize has asked that the Maya Train into its country, according to Belize’s prime minister.
The Riviera Maya News reports that Prime Minister Johnny Briceño said his county has made a formal request to Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, saying the move would strengthen regional ties and aid economic and tourism exchange.
Briceño said his country is proposing a two-phase expansion: first, an addition of just over 7 kilometers (about 4.3 miles) south from the the Mexican state of Quintana Roo into Belize; a spur of the Maya Train to Chetumal International Airport will pass within a mile of the Belizean border. Second, an addition through Belize into Guatamala to reach Tikal National Park, a site featuring extensive Mayan ruins. The national park is a straight-line distance of about 120 miles from Chetumal.
While studies are still needed, Briceño said the expansion would be highly beneficial to his country.
“It could open a new market for tourists,” he said, according to the Riviera Maya News, since those who come to Cancun are often from Europe and we don’t have many visitors from Europe, but rather they are Americans. With the Maya Train, it would be much easier for them to travel to Belize.” Also, he said, with plans for the Maya Train to begin freight service, “moving products from Mexico to Belize would be easier and also moving our products not only to Mexico, but to the United States and Canada. So it is an opportunity for everyone to win.”
The proposal is awaiting an official response, but Briceño said Sheinbaum indicated she supports the plan.
I was hoping the new owner of Trains would require proof-reading but so far no luck. In the print magazine a couple months ago they repeated a couple of paragraphs and no one caught it !
According to my online research, Belize (formerly known as British Honduras), no longer has any railroads, as all past 3′ (914mm) RRs, once built by private British interests, have all been abandoned in favor of the banana farms and lumber industries trucking their products. That could be a good thing since any new standard gauge RR construction could easily be done (over time) on Belize’s former narrow gauge RoW without any narrow gauge complications, for both efficient international North American passenger and freight trade interchanges.
As for Guatemala, their RRs are all 3′ (914mm) gauge, and IMO, it should be insisted that they all upgrade to North American 4′ 8 1/2″ (1435mm) standard gauge, for more efficient and cost effective interchange operations with North America.
I see all of this as a step in the right direction for all of Latin/North American international railroading, provided that some of the rest of South America conforms to standard gauge and AAR requirements. I’d like to see the day one could travel or ship from Alaska (via A2A Canada) to the southern tip of Argentina and Chile via all standard gauge railroads. But at my advanced age, I’m not holding my breathe. lol!
When I do not proofread my fumble fingers betray meeee!
“has asked that the Maya Train into its country”
?? is there a missing “be routed” ??
Proof-reading or even just reviewing is a lost art.