Mexico City’s subway system faces major challenges

A recent report warns about the possibility of registering fires at Mexico City’s Metro Line 1 because the electrical system is quite old, with over 50 years of use. Moreover, the subway system acknowledges that it does not follow national and international quality and security requirements.

The failures in the system translate into constant pauses, moments when trains do not move for over 20 minutes and passengers receive no explanation; moreover, the delays interrupt their daily activities. Mexico City’s metro registers the majority of failures at lines 1,2, and 3, the oldest ones in the system. This reinforces the hypothesis that the electrical system is too old, but the rolling equipment has also reached its expiration date. All this translates into the need for corrective maintenance.

The report confirms stagnation and lack of maintenance at the Metro Line 1. In March, a tragic accident took place in this line, it was the second most serious accident in the history of Mexico City’s subway .

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When the tragic accident took place back in March, local authorities blamed the driver and fired Metro workers with ties to the union, arguing that there was a corruption network operating inside the Metro workers’ union. On the other hand, the union disagreed with the decision and said the crash was the result of the deterioration of the trains and facilities, a situation they have been reporting for years; however, the Mexico City government denied the accusations and said it was a dirt campaign.

The train crash registered in Tacubaya was not an isolated incident but rather the tip of the iceberg. The accident was the result of negligence in the maintenance of the infrastructure. Furthermore, the subway system also faces problems regarding security. Almost a year ago, a drunk man killed a driver inside the facilities.

So who is guilty? Both former and current Mexico City officials. This is perhaps the last opportunity to solve the serious problems at the Metro system before another tragedy takes place.

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