Sinkhole Threatens Maya Train’s Future!

Engineer and activist Wilberth Esquivel has raised concerns about a sinkhole forming in Section 4 of the Maya Train, close to the Leona Vicario station in the municipality of Puerto Morelos. A video shared on social media shows the embankment, constructed with sascab, disintegrating due to recent rainfall. Esquivel voiced his worries about the situation, noting that grooves are forming that could cause track deformation in the future.

"The Maya Train passed just two meters from this sinkhole, which is being eroded by the rain. The material is dissolving. This is the compacted base that the train just travelled over," Esquivel explained. He pointed out that sascab typically expands with rain and contracts when it dries, leading to deformations in the pathway.

Esquivel warned that the deformation of the platform could potentially lead to a derailment in the future. He suggested safeguarding the slopes with cement, waterproofing, or vegetation to mitigate risks and reduce maintenance demands. "Our concern is that the compacted embankment running along the entire train route will start to deform, posing significant derailment risks and maintenance challenges," he added.