A modern railway through Central America could link Panama with Mexico by 2035

A historical bid enactment betwixt Mexico and Panama looks to beryllium moving guardant aft leaders from six Central American countries presented a US $52 cardinal determination obstruction integration program successful Leipzig, Germany.

The Regional Mobility and Logistics Master Plan 2035 outlines the instauration of 11 caller obstruction corridors crossed Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama — with the extremity of linking these networks to the Maya Train successful confederate Mexico and the Interoceanic Train crossed Mexico’s Isthmus of Tehuantepec. 

The plan, which aims to beryllium completed by 2035, was presented past period astatine the International Transport Forum 2025 Summit by the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA).

It would alteration seamless obstruction work from Panama to Mexico, opening caller commercialized routes and economical opportunities crossed the portion — including nonstop entree to North American and Asian markets.

The projected lines betwixt countries are intended for some cargo and rider service, according to the maestro plan.

“The talks are advanced, and the Guatemalan authorities is precise enthusiastic astir this issue,” Francisco Lima Mena, caput wide of SIECA, told the paper Milenio aft the May 23-25 summit. “Much of this requires coordinated absorption astatine borderline crossings, truthful important efforts are being made.”

Lima Mena said Mexico has already pledged to enactment Guatemala with 400,000 meters of rails, railroad ties and different materials to assistance reactivate its freight lines and link to Mexico’s confederate network.

The bid would link 11 strategical corridors (mapped here) passim the Central American region. (SIECA)

And El Salvador has already committed US $1.8 billion to reviving its obstruction lines arsenic portion of the initiative, though broader backing relies connected public-private partnerships and planetary lenders.

Officials accidental the task is astir much than conscionable moving cargo.

By linking distant and underserved communities to large markets, leaders anticipation to spur economical maturation and trim migration pressures.

“No 1 migrates for fun,” Lima Mena said. “Everything happens for a reason, and it’s usually economic, and that’s wherefore we person household disintegration … [We privation to have] sustainable and decent work. Sustainable jobs tin support families together.”

That’s a large crushed wherefore the program is simply a bully one, helium added.

“It’s an important infrastructure program for the region, and that’s wherefore we person the involvement of commercialized partners,” helium said.

The program besides includes harmonizing method standards, establishing determination biosafety protocols and creating a imperishable determination obstruction authority.

While Belize is not yet portion of the corridors, SIECA noted that its inclusion would beryllium straightforward if momentum continues.

Train projects successful Mexico picked up steam nether erstwhile President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and person remained a priority nether existent President Claudia Sheinbaum.

In April, Sheinbaum talked astir plans to widen Mexican bid work into Guatemala astatine a mañanera, her regular property conference.

With reports from Milenio and N+