Sheinbaum Meets With Banxico / Interurban Train Victims

Sheinbaum Meets With Banxico Governor. President Claudia Sheinbaum reported on her meeting with Banxico Governor Victoria Rodríguez, where they discussed key economic issues, including improving access to credit for small and medium-sized enterprises and promoting the digitalization of payments.

“We have been working on various issues, one of them is access to credit, not only at accessible rates, but also ensuring the requirements are not so extensive, because SMEs, and sometimes others, cannot access credit due to the number of requirements asked. We also talked about payment digitalization, which we will start this year. Digital payments already exist, but we will push them even further.”

Interurban Train Victims. Arturo Medina, Deputy Minister for Human Rights, confirmed that an inter-institutional team will start the comprehensive damage repair process for victims. “Starting Monday, families will be contacted to initiate the reparations process. A legal advisor, along with FGR and SEGOB personnel, will assist victims in understanding and accepting the proposed mechanisms. This process will minimize bureaucratic obstacles and ensure direct attention to all concerns.”

This week, the FGR concluded that the derailment of the Interoceanic Train in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec on Dec. 28, which killed 14 people, was caused by the train operator traveling at excessive speed. The train was moving at 65 km/h on a curve with a limit of 50 km/h and reached 111 km/h on straight sections, exceeding the permitted speed by 41 km/h.

The investigation, based on railway infrastructure, locomotive components, and black box data, ruled out brake failure as a contributing factor. Following these findings, the FGR will pursue criminal proceedings against the operator for probable manslaughter and negligent injury.

International Certification for Passenger Train Operations. Sheinbaum also announced that an international certification will be requested for Mexico’s trains to ensure higher safety standards and prevent future incidents.  “For passenger trains, an international certification is being sought so that additional recommendations are implemented throughout operations to guarantee non-repetition, a key element of the Victims’ Law.”