Conflicting Accounts Emerge After Maya Train Derailment in Izamal

A Maya Train (Tren Maya) passenger train derailed Tuesday afternoon at Izamal station in Yucatán, disrupting service and raising fresh questions about the controversial railway’s safety record just as neighboring Belize accelerates plans to join the network.

Train 304, traveling from Cancún to Mérida, left the tracks around 1:48 PM while entering the station at low speed. No injuries were reported among passengers, who were evacuated and provided bus transportation to continue their journey.

Videos circulated on social media showing passengers evacuating the tilted train car as emergency crews arrived. Civil protection teams, National Guard units, and tourism development officials (Fonatur) responded to the scene.

Passenger accounts of what happened varied. In videos shared online, one passenger claimed “another train hit us” and “entered our path and diverted this train.” However, a passenger identified as Amelia told Mexican newspaper El Universal that National Guard personnel informed passengers “they collided with another train that was stopped on the track, and when changing tracks, the train derailed.” She described the impact as strong and attributed it to a failure in the track switching system.

Federal officials disputed collision claims. An anonymous federal official told the Associated Press that while “part of the derailed car leaned onto a train on a parallel track,” there was no actual collision.

This marks the second derailment incident in Yucatán since the Maya Train began operations. In March 2024, the fourth car of train D006 derailed at Tixkokob station while traveling at approximately 10 kilometers per hour (6 mph). That incident was later attributed to human error involving a track switch.

The railway has experienced roughly one technical failure per week during its first months of operation, according to state-owned operator Tren Maya SA de CV. Common problems include power loss, overheating, tire failures, and satellite communication disruptions.

Despite Tuesday’s incident, Belize officials remain enthusiastic about extending the railway into their territory. Far from reconsidering due to safety concerns, the Central American nation is actively pushing to join the network.

“The Maya Train is a brilliant economic idea,” Church Senator Louis Wade told local media this week. “It connects Mérida to Cancún, Tulum, all the way down to Chetumal, our neighbor. The next logical step is Belize.”

Prime Minister John Briceño recently met with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to discuss the extension. “The idea with the Maya Train is that it would follow the highway, it would go along our highway instead of going through [pristine areas], but we are just in the initial stages,” Briceño explained.

Mexico has outlined plans to extend the 1,477-kilometer (918-mile) network approximately 300 kilometers (186 miles) through Belize and into Guatemala. The first phase would involve building just over 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) of tracks from west of Chetumal across the Hondo River into Belize.

Environmental groups have expressed concerns about both the existing railway and its proposed expansion. The project has faced criticism for deforestation and potential damage to cenotes, the region’s crucial freshwater sources. However, Belizean officials argue that following existing highway corridors would minimize ecological impact.

The troubles with taking Tren Maya to major destinations have been well-documented since the railway’s December 2023 launch. The train currently carries about 1,200 passengers daily, far below initial projections of 22,000 to 37,000 riders.

The $30 billion project has exceeded original cost estimates and faces ongoing technical challenges. In its first year, the railway lost over 2.5 billion pesos, covering only about 10% of operating costs through passenger fares and souvenir sales.

Mexican authorities continue investigating Tuesday’s derailment cause. Service resumed later in the day with passengers being bused around the affected section.

For Belize, the extension represents potential economic opportunities despite Mexico’s operational challenges. Officials estimate the transnational railway could create up to 100,000 direct and indirect jobs across the region.

The next phase of discussions between Mexico and Belize is expected within weeks, according to Railway Gazette International.

As the Tren Maya works to overcome its growing pains, regional partners remain committed to the vision of connecting the Maya world by rail. Whether that vision can be realized safely and profitably remains an open question.