Not an existential risk for the Panama Canal.
From Columbia 1, December 24, 2024:
Mexico New Interoceanic Corridor Railway Challenges Panama Canal
Mexico is constructing an Interoceanic Corridor railway to provide an alternative to the Panama Canal and ease international trade. The railway aims to alleviate the strain on the Panama Canal, which is struggling with low water levels due to a prolonged drought. The canal has raised toll prices significantly, and with water levels at an all-time low, shipping through the canal has become increasingly difficult.
The Interoceanic Corridor
The $7.5 billion project spans 188 miles across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, offering a route for containers to be transferred from ships to trains and then transported to the opposite coast for reloading onto ships to complete their journeys. This initiative revives an old project—the railway was originally opened in 1907 but was abandoned after the Panama Canal became operational.The Interoceanic Corridor is also intended to address poverty in Mexico. Running through the states of Veracruz and Oaxaca, both of which face high poverty rates, the project is expected to attract investment and improve local infrastructure. The railway will have ten stops across the two states, with ports on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The plan also includes the possibility of linking the corridor to the Tren Maya, extending the network to Cancun.
The Mexican government has invested $6 billion in the project, with an additional $2 billion coming from private investors....
....MUCH MORE
Three quick notes:
1) Some of the information on the drought was already out of date when this piece was written. With the reversal of the Logistics: "Panama Canal Continues to Ease Drought Restrictions as Rainy Season Kicks Off"
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