Maya Train Derailment Raises Environmental Concerns in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Monday’s derailment of a Maya Train in Campeche has reignited environmental concerns in Playa del Carmen, where activists warn that recently announced plans to launch freight service on Section 5 South, a stretch built over fragile karst terrain, could end in catastrophe.

José Urbina Bravo, founder of the environmental group Sélvame MX, said the incident was worrying, not welcome. “We know this ground was not suitable for a train, which is why they resorted to a bed of nails using piles,” he said. “We know those piles have already had problems and have needed maintenance. It is difficult to trust that a tragedy will not happen, whether due to the structure itself or the passage of the train.” He added that while a derailment involving passengers would be terrifying, a freight train carrying fuel spilling into the aquifer would be even worse.

According to Tren Maya, the state-owned operator, the incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. Monday as a train on the Cancún–Palenque route was leaving the San Francisco de Campeche station. Passengers were evacuated from the unit.

The Maya Train has recorded several track incidents since its inauguration in 2023, along with reports of sinking piling supports on Section 5 South. The stretch between Playa del Carmen and Cancún, the region’s busiest tourist corridor, has operated normally, however.

“Nobody is happy about this,” Urbina Bravo said. “Those celebrating the derailment are just as harmful as those who put the train there. I sincerely wish I had been wrong about every warning we made. Unfortunately, reality has shown that the specialists’ warnings were correct.”