Another Mexico City Subway Accident: A Matter of Negligence?

This Saturday, another accident was reported at the Mexico City Metro: a collision of two trains killed one person and injured 57. The Head of Mexico City’s Government, Claudia Sheinbaum, assured the public that justice would be served. Meanwhile, experts highlight that in recent years, the increase in metro accidents is tied to the lack of resources invested in its operations and maintenance.

The accident occurred at 9:17 a.m. between La Raza and Potrero stations on Line 3. According to users, the accident happened after the train had to apply brakes abruptly, after which the power supply was cut off. Authorities reported that in addition to the deaths and injuries, four people were trapped in the wreckage. Three were rescued at 11:20 a.m. and the fourth at 2:05 p.m.

After the accident, part of Line 3’s service was suspended to help the injured and start investigations. "As always, our priority is the victims and justice will be done. The investigation by the Mexico City Attorney General's Office has started and experts will be consulted. This process will be the basis for severe consequences," said Sheinbaum.

In recent years, the Mexico City Metro System has seen several accidents, the most serious being the fatal collapse of a subway train overpass in 2021. The accident occurred between stations Olivo and Tezonco of Line 12 of the Mexico City Metro, the system’s newest subway line. A train fell during the collapse, leading to the deaths of 26 people, in addition to inflicting injuries on more than 60.

For years, experts have warned that Mexico City’s Metro system has not received enough resources for adequate maintenance to meet basic security standards. According to José Lege, President, Ciudad Posible, the Metro system is operating at 50 percent of its budget with a US$1.4 billion deficit, increasing insecurity and operational risks. 

Lege said that the deterioration did not occur during Sheinbaum’s term as Mayor of Mexico City; it is a chronic issue that the city has been building up for 25 years. He said that the political autonomy given to Mexico City in 1997 affected the system’s budget since, from that date, Mexico City’s government took on most of the metro’s expenses. He added that ever since Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas took office as Mayor of Mexico City, the system has experienced budget reductions and pointed out that under Sheinbaum’s administration, the government assigned just US$723 million to the system’s operations.