Photo Essay

Mexico’s Answer to the Panama Canal Finally Takes Shape

A new railway is transforming communities, livelihoods and landscapes—and could shake up global trade.

By Mauricio Palos and Andrzej Rybak |

October 14, 2025

Passengers alight in Matías Romero, Oaxaca, from the new Tehuantepec Interoceanic Train.
Mauricio Palos

Mexico’s Answer to the Panama Canal Finally Takes Shape

A new railway is transforming communities, livelihoods and landscapes—and could shake up global trade.

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