Maya Train Derails at Izamal Station in Yucatán

MEXICO CITY — A coach of the Maya Train derailed on the morning of Tuesday, August 19, at the Izamal station, located on Section 3 (Calkiní, Campeche-Izamal, Yucatán), during a journey from Mérida to Cancún.

Videos disseminated on social media show passengers evacuating the affected coach while elements of the National Guard secure the area. Operations on this section of the train were temporarily suspended to carry out technical reviews.

This is the second derailment recorded on Section 3 of the Maya Train, following a similar incident in March 2024 at the Tixkokob station, where an inadequate manual fastening of screws on a track switch was cited as the cause.

The Izamal station, designed to connect Yucatán with other key destinations like Chichén Itzá and Cancún, is a strategic point of the Maya Train.

The company Tren Maya and the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena), in charge of the project, have not issued an official statement detailing the causes of the derailment or a timeline for the resumption of service.

Witnesses on site reported that the derailment occurred suddenly, but the evacuation was carried out in an orderly manner. "We heard a loud noise and the train stopped. They asked us to get off quickly, but there was no panic," a passenger commented on social media.

The Maya Train, one of the flagship projects of the federal government, has faced criticism since its conception for its environmental and social impact, and now for issues of operational safety. Local organizations and indigenous collectives in Yucatán have stated that incidents like the one in Izamal reinforce the need for more rigorous oversight in the construction and operation of the train.

Izamal Station

The Izamal station of the Maya Train is a key point on the route of this railway project connecting the southeast of Mexico, specifically in the state of Yucatán. The station is located approximately 7 km southwest of downtown Izamal, in the commissariat of Kimbilá, Yucatán. It is not in the heart of the city, so additional transportation (such as taxis or official intermodal transport) is required to reach downtown Izamal, known as the "Yellow City" or "City of Three Cultures" for its pre-Hispanic, colonial, and contemporary richness.

Izamal is the point where Section 3 (Calkiní, Campeche-Izamal, Yucatán) ends and Section 4 (Izamal-Cancún, Quintana Roo) begins. The station is inspired by the Mayan pyramids of Izamal, with a gable roof structure, walls with a slight inclination, rounded corners, and the use of limestone as the main material, reflecting vernacular Mayan architecture. It has 3 tracks and 2 platforms, designed for low passenger demand, focused mainly on tourism.