The Mayan Train, a Benchmarking Strategy for the Pacific Railways Network

Abstract

In order to boost the regional and local economy in a competitive manner, both the Colombian and Mexican governments are promoting initiatives to strengthen the transportation of goods, reactivate tourism and improve passenger mobility.  These initiatives are based on strengthening railroad transportation, for which large-scale projects are being developed in Mexico in the Yucatan Peninsula, such as the so-called Mayan Train, and in Colombia the reactivation of railroads, with special interest in the Pacific Railroad Network, which links the country's most important port, Buenaventura, with the productive centers. By means of a comparative analysis between the two regions, using the methodology of field visits, we seek to establish the technical conditions, state promotion and territory of the Pacific railroad network and the Mayan Train as a development alternative to the bets for sustainable growth.