The Tren Maya derailed again Monday, coming off the tracks about 50 meters (164 feet) after leaving San Francisco station in Campeche on a run bound for Mérida.

None of the 123 passengers aboard was injured, according to the railway’s operator. The train’s engineer stopped the unit as soon as the derailment was detected, and passengers stayed on board for about 30 minutes while crews assessed the damage. Workers distributed water and food to those waiting, according to local media reports.

Passengers were eventually taken off the train and bused to Edzná, a stop farther along the line, where they boarded a different Mayan Train to continue toward Mérida. The operator said the rear portion of the convoy was affected and that a specialized commission has opened an investigation into what caused the derailment, which it classified as a “track incident.”

Service on the rest of the line continued as normal on Monday, though the operator warned that schedules could be adjusted in the days following the incident.

A pattern of mishaps

Monday’s derailment is at least the third since Tren Maya began carrying passengers in December 2023. The railway, built and operated by the Mexican military, has also logged dozens of electrical faults since it opened — at least 25 through July of this year alone, according to Mexican news reports, which have caused intermittent power loss along sections of track.

The recurring mechanical issues have added to the financial pressure on Tren Maya, which has operated at a loss for nearly two years. Government officials have pointed to a planned freight service, connecting Mérida to the port of Progreso, as a key piece of a broader plan to make the railway sustainable. That cargo line is expected to begin operations by the end of 2026, according to earlier statements from Fonatur, the national tourism development agency.

Monday’s incident followed a derailment in Izamal last year that also left passengers unhurt but drew scrutiny over the railway’s track-switching systems. Together, the episodes have kept safety questions in the spotlight even as ridership and freight plans continue to expand across the Yucatán Peninsula.

With reporting from Luces del Siglo

Fast Facts

• Derailment occurred about 50 meters (164 feet) from San Francisco station, Campeche
• All 123 passengers aboard were unhurt
• Passengers were bused to Edzná to board a connecting train
• It’s at least the third Tren Maya derailment since service began in December 2023
• The railway has logged at least 25 electrical faults through July 2026

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Facebook Teaser

Tren Maya’s latest derailment left no one hurt, but it’s the third since the railway opened — and another reminder of the growing pains still shadowing the Peninsula’s biggest infrastructure project.

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Editorial Note

The claim of “at least 25 electrical faults through July” comes from Mexican press reports citing Tren Maya’s own disclosures; I have not independently verified that figure against a primary document. The cause of Monday’s derailment is still under investigation, so avoid stating a definitive cause beyond the operator’s “track incident” characterization until an official finding is published.