Unlike what happens with the archaeological and artistic heritage, in Mexico the railway heritage has little recognition, said the director of the National Museum of Mexican Railroads (MNFM), Teresa Márquez Martínez.
"Changing these paradigms is hard, but we have been progressing and seen major changes, such as the privatization of the rail system that has allowed us to recover a great material wealth but at the same time we are trying to recover the memory and heritage "she said
Teresa Márquez said in an interview with the National Council for Culture and Arts that the National Center for the Preservation of Cultural Railroad Heritage has played a key role in the revaluation and recognition.
Teresa Márquez stressed that the National Center for the Preservation of Cultural Railroad Heritage works not only with the past, but has as basis for developing projects aimed at development and pursuit of growth for the future.
She referred to the international railway bridge Matamoros-Brownsville, opened last August, as an example of the validity or railroads as cultural heritage.
“New railway development projects are being planned and all these projects have addressed the documentation center in research purposes. We participate as consultants because a cultural project may trigger significant urban transformation of Matamoros. Our railway heritage supports the current development and builds links between this heritage and the daily life"
She continues to say that for some people it is difficult to acknowledge that a railroad has historical value because it is most considered as a simple road when it fact build rail tracks are one of the most valuable assets of the railroad.
She explained that her center is working on the localisation, restoration and protection of buildings, machinery and documentaries that record the evolution and contributions of this means of transport to national culture. This work includes cataloging and expanding; research, and support for public, private and social initiatives for the protection of railway heritage.
Recovery and conservation of railway routes
Teresa Márquez said that there is a social and economic deterioration in the places where the railway stopped running rail, causing environmental and transportation problems, despite the fact that it’s happening in areas of great natural value.
With the aim of promoting a national program for the recovery, conservation and conversion of railway routes and historic buildings, the National Council for Culture and Arts (CONACULTA), through the National Center for the Preservation of Cultural Railway Heritage launched the “Mexico Green Tracks” program in 2003.
The project aims at recovering and valuing the heritage of railroads no longer in use in order to boost natural and cultural tourism along with sustainable transportation in urban and rural areas.
"These sections may have a better use that just becoming a new road. All this is new in Mexico. We know that we need to moderate the use of cars because the environment is important. "