Question
Bringing the Trains Back
Physical Science Studies: Wave Interactions
For more than a century, Mexico depended on railways to move both goods and passengers. Rebels even fought much of the 1910-1917 Revolution from trains. But as the 21st century dawned, things changed. In 1999, the country abandoned all regular passenger trains, citing underuse. Existing lines were devoted to moving freight. Only a handful of short tourist train routes remained.
Then, in 2013, the Mexican government announced that it would bring back rail travel. Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto disclosed plans to invest about $100 billion in air, rail, road, telecom, and port projects over the following five years. He explained that the investment would help improve Mexico's economy and help modernize the country.
"Nobody can doubt that better infrastructure translates into more competitiveness and productivity, which will ignite economic growth and social well-being," Peña Nieto said. "These are investments that will translate into jobs."
In announcing the plan, Peña Nieto emphasized the goal of reviving passenger trains in Mexico. The country was planning to build about 360 miles (583 kilometers) of high-speed rail links, including links between Mexico City and the nearby cities of Toluca and Queretaro. The government envisioned 100,000 passengers traveling daily between the cities by 2016.
Another proposed rail line will likely cross the Yucatan Peninsula, connecting Cancún with the Yucatán capital of Mérida. The "Transpeninsular Train" is expected to have air-conditioned cars carrying as many as 400 passengers and traveling at speeds up to 110 miles (177 kilometers) per hour.
Other planned projects include the modernization or building of four airports, seven seaports, and about 3,350 miles (5,410 kilometers) of highways. The government intends to strengthen fiber optic networks, expand broadband Internet access, and speed up freight train service.
The government hopes that the trains will improve Mexico's transportation difficulties. Still, the plan is not without its critics. These naysayers point out that while high-speed trains have become popular in parts of Asia and Europe, it remains to be seen how well they will work in Mexico. Most existing rail lines have street-level crossings that would be extremely dangerous with high-speed trains flying through. Additionally, Mexico is home to mountainous terrain. Building new lines in such conditions will be very costly.
"Mexico really doesn't have the characteristics for high-speed trains," said Jorge Fernández Acosta, an architecture professor specializing in urban design and transport issues. "Our terrain is very mountainous, very extreme."
Fernández Acosta said that he likes Peña Nieto's proposal to build a light-rail urban transport project in Guadalajara, Mexico's second-largest city. Still, Acosta noted "even that wouldn't be a complete solution" for the traffic-clogged metropolis.
But Mexico will need to deal with more than terrain and traffic considerations. Peña Nieto will have to reverse the bad reputation that the state-run trains built up in their final years, before service was canceled. Service was very poor—trains often stopped for hours, and air conditioning broke down. In addition, trains moved at a snail's pace and sometimes took days to reach their destinations. The government will also need to attract passengers willing to pay higher ticket prices for high-speed trains. The task will not be easy or inexpensive.
Still, Tsung-Chung Kao, a professor at the railroad engineering program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, was optimistic. He noted that many countries have overcome these challenges.
"Every country that builds a first high-speed line, builds a second," Kao said.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Question 1
1 / 8
The best alternate headline for this article would be __________.
Mexico To Improve Its Air, Rail, Port, and Road Systems
Mexico Abandons All Regular Passenger Trains
Mexico Opens Its Transpeninsular Train for Tourists
Mexico Researches Transportation Problems and Solutions
Physical Science Studies: Wave Interactions
For more than a century, Mexico depended on railways to move both goods and passengers. Rebels even fought much of the 1910-1917 Revolution from trains. But as the 21st century dawned, things changed. In 1999, the country abandoned all regular passenger trains, citing underuse. Existing lines were devoted to moving freight. Only a handful of short tourist train routes remained.
Then, in 2013, the Mexican government announced that it would bring back rail travel. Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto disclosed plans to invest about $100 billion in air, rail, road, telecom, and port projects over the following five years. He explained that the investment would help improve Mexico's economy and help modernize the country.
"Nobody can doubt that better infrastructure translates into more competitiveness and productivity, which will ignite economic growth and social well-being," Peña Nieto said. "These are investments that will translate into jobs."
In announcing the plan, Peña Nieto emphasized the goal of reviving passenger trains in Mexico. The country was planning to build about 360 miles (583 kilometers) of high-speed rail links, including links between Mexico City and the nearby cities of Toluca and Queretaro. The government envisioned 100,000 passengers traveling daily between the cities by 2016.
Another proposed rail line will likely cross the Yucatan Peninsula, connecting Cancún with the Yucatán capital of Mérida. The "Transpeninsular Train" is expected to have air-conditioned cars carrying as many as 400 passengers and traveling at speeds up to 110 miles (177 kilometers) per hour.
Other planned projects include the modernization or building of four airports, seven seaports, and about 3,350 miles (5,410 kilometers) of highways. The government intends to strengthen fiber optic networks, expand broadband Internet access, and speed up freight train service.
The government hopes that the trains will improve Mexico's transportation difficulties. Still, the plan is not without its critics. These naysayers point out that while high-speed trains have become popular in parts of Asia and Europe, it remains to be seen how well they will work in Mexico. Most existing rail lines have street-level crossings that would be extremely dangerous with high-speed trains flying through. Additionally, Mexico is home to mountainous terrain. Building new lines in such conditions will be very costly.
"Mexico really doesn't have the characteristics for high-speed trains," said Jorge Fernández Acosta, an architecture professor specializing in urban design and transport issues. "Our terrain is very mountainous, very extreme."
Fernández Acosta said that he likes Peña Nieto's proposal to build a light-rail urban transport project in Guadalajara, Mexico's second-largest city. Still, Acosta noted "even that wouldn't be a complete solution" for the traffic-clogged metropolis.
But Mexico will need to deal with more than terrain and traffic considerations. Peña Nieto will have to reverse the bad reputation that the state-run trains built up in their final years, before service was canceled. Service was very poor—trains often stopped for hours, and air conditioning broke down. In addition, trains moved at a snail's pace and sometimes took days to reach their destinations. The government will also need to attract passengers willing to pay higher ticket prices for high-speed trains. The task will not be easy or inexpensive.
Still, Tsung-Chung Kao, a professor at the railroad engineering program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, was optimistic. He noted that many countries have overcome these challenges.
"Every country that builds a first high-speed line, builds a second," Kao said.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Question 1
1 / 8
The best alternate headline for this article would be __________.
Mexico To Improve Its Air, Rail, Port, and Road Systems
Mexico Abandons All Regular Passenger Trains
Mexico Opens Its Transpeninsular Train for Tourists
Mexico Researches Transportation Problems and Solutions
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The best alternate headline for this article would be **Mexico To Improve Its Air, Rail, Port, and Road Systems**.
This headline captures the main focus of the article, which discusses the Mexican government's plans to invest significantly in transportation infrastructure, including the revival of passenger rail services and other transport systems.
This headline captures the main focus of the article, which discusses the Mexican government's plans to invest significantly in transportation infrastructure, including the revival of passenger rail services and other transport systems.