Can Mexico’s Isthmus of Tehuantepec rail project (CIIT) achieve its dream of becoming a “new Panama Canal” and will the sprawling infrastructure project bring prosperity to impoverished southern Mexico? Will the arrival of commercial giants such as Amazon help develop the states of Oaxaca, Chiapas and Veracruz, or is the scheme doomed to failure?
With foreign investment, rapid development times and an ambitious economic plan all in play, will President Sheinbaum be able to deliver on the promises of her predecessor? Mexico News Daily’s subscriber-exclusive podcast looks at one of the most ambitious development schemes in Mexican history to predict the benefits, pitfalls and future of the CIIT megaproject.
This podcast was produced using AI tools. All information collected and discussed in this episode was investigated, written and edited by human journalists. Compiled from Mexico News Daily articles by Travis Bembenek, Peter Davies, Andy Altman-Ohr, Gabriela Solis and Cat Rainsford. Edited by Kate Bohné, Chris Havler-Barrett and Caitlin Cooper. Podcast produced by Chris Havler-Barrett.
Mexico’s transpeninsular train would be the one proposed to connect upper and lower Baja, correct? The place where the CIIT would be is not a península.
Actually, this is not a Baja project, rather is crosses the Tehuantepec region of southern Mexico,the shortest distance between the Gulf and Pacific.
Most of AMLO’s projects were unnecessary and unwanted with huge cost overruns. If they can get this 100 year old idea up and running, Mexico will see huge benefits.
Why would a commercial shipping company choose to unload freight on the west coast; use a train to the east coast; lease another vessel; and re-load it? So much additional handling. Opportunities for theft and damage. And incredibly costly – especially leasing TWO vessels. This is a doomed and uneconomic idea.