Maya Train Derails On The Way To Cancun

Last Updated 9 months ago

The Maya Train system had its first safety incident this week when a train heading towards Cancun and loaded with passengers jumped the tracks near the Tixkokob station in the Yucatan.

Mechanical Failure Derailment

According to reports of the incident, the morning train was en route from the Campeche Station in the Yucatan to Cancun in Quintana Roo when the alleged mechanical failure occurred.

It was right outside of the Tixkokob Station, located about 15 miles east of Merida in the Yucatan, where it planned to stop to pick up and drop off passengers when the lead car jumped the tracks, leading to the stopping of the train.

The train was unloaded at that point of all passengers and reports that nobody was injured in what was classified as a minor incident.

Passengers had to wait for the next train to arrive and were boarded on the new train to complete their journey to destinations towards Cancun.

The travelers on the new train, and those transferred from derailed train, captured video and pictures which were instantly shared on social media showing the extent of damage to the detail front train car.

Investigation Underway

Investigators were immediately dispatched to the location to review the actual recording of events from the train recorder, interview passengers, examine the equipment on the train and look at the conditions of the track at the derailment.

Initial reports from the scene showed that the train was on a side track near the station, which was designed to allow the train to pick up and drop off people at the platform.

The engine and some rail cars successfully transferred the track.

However, the last car failed to completely transfer and join the rail. It jumped the tracks but did not overturn.

A complete report should be forthcoming from investigators as they review all the available evidence and make an official determination of what caused the first car of the train to jump the tracks and derail.

Maya Train officials did not immediately say when the official investigation would be complete and the reason for the incident disclosed.

Issues With the Maya Train

The incident is just another issue in the short history of the Maya Train project in the Mexican Caribbean.

The project, designed to increase tourism and access to cities across the jungle region has been challenged since its inception of limited service late last year.

The current part of the train network is the line from Campeche to Cancun heading through Merida. This is the section that experienced the mechanical issue which led to the derailment.

However, this section has also been plagued with delays and passengers waiting hours for late trains to arrive.

This does not even start to mention the issues that caused a delay in the start of service on which will be the main tourist section of track from Cancun south through Tulum en route to Bacalar and Chetumal.

What Travelers Need to Know

Ultimately, the issue with the train will be investigated, and changes will be made to ensure the safety and security of tourists in the Mexican Caribbean.

These could come as a combination of both operational and mechanical changes to how the trains are run.

While it’s new and trendy for travelers to ride the Maya Train when visiting the Mexican Caribbean, they also need to have some patience to deal with the system’s challenges.

For most travelers, the hope is this is just start-up challenges faced by the new train system instead of a collection of long-term issues that will plague the tourist-friendly train network for many years to come.

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