Mexico: In Yucatan, a car of the “Mayan train” derails amid controversy
In southern Mexico, the derailment of a carriage of the controversial "Mayan train," the legacy of former President López Obrador, has reignited attacks from the opposition, which denounces a "botched" project, marred by technical flaws and suspicions of corruption.
“It was only a matter of time.” On the afternoon of Tuesday, August 19, a car of the “Mayan train” derailed near the Izamal station, on section 3 between Cancun and Mérida, in the state of Yucatán, Mexico, reports El Universal . According to initial reports collected by the Mexican daily, the train collided with another car that was stopped, waiting for passengers. No serious injuries were reported.
Officially inaugurated in December 2023, the “Mayan Train” is a rail transport megaproject launched by former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (“AMLO”, 2018-2024), now fervently championed by his successor, Claudia Sheinbaum . 1,544 kilometers long, it connects, from the city of Palenque (State of Chiapas), the main towns and tourist areas of the Yucatán Peninsula, in the south of the country.
However, the accident does not come at the right time for the current government (Morena party) and for President Sheinbaum, who have been striving for several months to defend a project undermined by controversies. Environmental impact, failure to respect the consultation of the Amerindian populations or even questioning its profitability… The black points reported by the press regarding the “t
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