CIIT Investigates Another Line Z Rail Incident

CIIT is reviewing a new Line Z freight incident that caused no injuries or service disruption, while passenger operations remain suspended after the fatal December 2025 derailment.

The Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (CIIT) is investigating a new rail incident on its Line Z after two articulated freight units left the track alignment on the night of July 14. While the event initially drew comparisons with the fatal passenger train derailment that occurred in the same corridor in late 2025, federal authorities stressed that the latest occurrence was less severe and did not interrupt cargo operations.

According to a statement issued by the Mexican Navy (SEMAR) and the CIIT, the incident occurred at kilometer 230+800 of Line Z, the freight corridor linking Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, with Salina Cruz, Oaxaca. Two articulated freight units, each consisting of two railcars, were involved. Authorities said there were no injuries or impacts on nearby communities.

The locomotives and the remainder of the freight convoy were also removed safely from the area. The Isthmus of Tehuantepec Railway is reviewing the incident to determine its causes, although freight operations are continuing normally.

Sheinbaum Distinguishes Incident From Full Derailment

President Claudia Sheinbaum says the freight cars did not completely fall or leave the railway, distinguishing the event from a more serious derailment. 

“More than a derailment, the railcars did not fall completely, but it was an accident. It was reported yesterday by the Navy and the corresponding inspections are underway,” says Sheinbaum. She also addressed the status of passenger operations on Line Z, saying authorities have received observations from the consulting company reviewing the railway following the previous fatal accident.

Sheinbaum states the government would provide further information regarding both the latest freight incident and the conditions required for passenger service to resume.

Previous Accident Left 14 Dead

The latest event occurred less than seven months after a passenger train derailed on Dec. 28, 2025, along the Nizanda-Chivela section of Line Z in Oaxaca. The train was traveling from Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, toward Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, when it derailed near a section known as Curva de la Herradura. The convoy was composed of two locomotives and four passenger cars carrying about 250 people.

Following the derailment, one passenger car fell into a ravine and another was left partially suspended. The accident killed 14 people and injured about 100, prompting a large-scale emergency response and the suspension of passenger operations.

Initial reports had placed the death toll at 13, but authorities later confirmed an additional fatality. MBN reported at the time that SEMAR deployed emergency personnel and transferred injured passengers to hospitals across the region.  

The Federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR) subsequently attributed the accident to operational and human factors rather than structural failures in the railway infrastructure. The investigation cleared the construction work and physical condition of the tracks as direct causes, allowing infrastructure interventions to continue.  

The federal government also completed the compensation process for the victims and their families. However, passenger service remained suspended while authorities and an external consulting company conducted additional technical and safety evaluations.

Line Z Safety Remains Under Review

The approximately 300km route is designed to facilitate freight movement between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean while supporting industrial and logistics development across southern Mexico.  

Authorities have not yet announced the cause of the latest incident. SEMAR said the railway’s technical review remains underway and that the findings will determine whether additional operational or infrastructure measures are required.

The government is also expected to disclose the consulting company’s recommendations before establishing a timetable for the restoration of passenger service.