2023 Mexico City Metro train crash

{{Short description|2023 railway accident in Mexico City}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2023}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}

{{Infobox public transit accident

| name = 2023 Mexico City Metro train crash

| image= File:Túnel del Metro entre estaciones Potrero y La Raza.jpg

| caption = The crash occurred in the tunnel located between Potrero and La Raza metro stations (tunnel entrance pictured).

| image_alt = Several workers stand in front of the tunnel entrance.

| image_map =

{{mapframe | frame = yes | plain = yes | frame-align = center

| frame-width = 250 | frame-height = 250 | frame-coordinates={{coord|19.50|-99.15}} | zoom = 10

| type = point | id = Q116060644 | marker = rail | marker-color = #000000

}}

| date = {{start date|2023|01|07|df=yes}}

| time = 09:16 CDT (UTC-5)

| location = Potrero–La Raza interstation tunnel
Avenida de los Insurgentes, Gustavo A. Madero, Mexico City

| coordinates = {{Coord|19|28|26|N|99|08|04.9|W|region:MX-DIF_type:event|display=inline,title}}

| country = Mexico

| line = Line 3

| operator = Sistema de Transporte Colectivo (STC)

| type = Train collision

| cause = Under investigation

| trains = 2

| vehicles =

| passengers =

| crew = 2

| pedestrians =

| damage =

| property =

| deaths = 1

| injuries = 106

}}

A train crash occurred on 7 January 2023 at 09:16 CDT (UTC−5){{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/espanol/mexico/articulo/2023-01-07/choque-de-trenes-deja-un-muerto-y-57-heridos-en-mexico|title=Choque de trenes deja un muerto y 57 heridos en México|trans-title=Train crash leaves one dead and 57 injuries in Mexico|language=es|date=7 January 2023|access-date=7 January 2023|first=Fernando|last=Llano|website=Los Angeles Times |agency=Associated Press|archive-date=15 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115021315/https://www.latimes.com/espanol/mexico/articulo/2023-01-07/choque-de-trenes-deja-un-muerto-y-57-heridos-en-mexico|url-status=live}} when a Mexico City Metro train going northward towards Indios Verdes metro station crashed into another one that was parked inside the PotreroLa Raza interstation tunnel of Line 3, which runs below Avenida de los Insurgentes. The collision killed one person and injured 106 others, including the driver of the train that crashed.{{cite web|url=https://elpais.com/mexico/2023-01-08/el-gobierno-de-ciudad-de-mexico-eleva-el-numero-de-heridos-del-accidente-del-metro-a-106.html|title=El Gobierno de Ciudad de México eleva el número de heridos del accidente del metro a 106|language=Es|trans-title=Mexico City government raises number of injured in subway accident to 106|work=El País|first=Pablo|last=Ferri|date=8 January 2022|access-date=15 January 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114204415/https://elpais.com/mexico/2023-01-08/el-gobierno-de-ciudad-de-mexico-eleva-el-numero-de-heridos-del-accidente-del-metro-a-106.html|archive-date=14 January 2023}}

Background

=Metro system=

{{Main|Mexico City Metro}}

The Sistema de Transporte Colectivo (STC) operates the Mexico City Metro,{{Cite web|title=Mexico City Rapid Transit Metro, Mexico - Railway Technology|url=https://www.railway-technology.com/projects/mexico-city-metro-mexican-transit/|access-date=5 May 2021|work=Railway Technology|archive-date=6 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506003543/https://www.railway-technology.com/projects/mexico-city-metro-mexican-transit/|url-status=live}} one of the busiest in the world, carrying around 4.5 million passengers a day.{{Cite news|date=4 May 2021|title=Mexico City metro overpass collapse kills 23|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-56977129|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-date=4 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504145259/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-56977129|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://metro.cdmx.gob.mx/afluencia-de-estacion-por-linea-2019|language=es|title=Afluencia de estación por línea 2019|publisher=Sistema de Transporte Colectivo Metro|year=2020|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-date=8 April 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408025317/https://metro.cdmx.gob.mx/afluencia-de-estacion-por-linea-2019|trans-title=Station traffic per line 2019}} Commencing operations in 1969, it is the second-largest metro system in North America, after the New York City Subway system.

Prior to the crash, the system had shown signs of deterioration, with general concerns being expressed about its maintenance,{{cite news|first1=Oscar|last1=Lopez|first2=Mike|last2=Ives|first3=Derrick Bryson|last3=Taylor|title=Mexico City's metro has been plagued by problems|date=4 May 2021|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/05/04/world/mexico-train-metro-crash/mexico-citys-metro-has-been-plagued-by-problems|access-date=4 May 2021|url-access=limited|archive-date=4 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504101250/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/05/04/world/mexico-train-metro-crash/mexico-citys-metro-has-been-plagued-by-problems|url-status=live}}{{cite news|first=David|last=Agren|title=Anger mounts as death toll from Mexico metro overpass collapse rises to 24|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/04/mexico-train-collapse-death-toll-anger|access-date=4 May 2021|work=The Guardian|date=4 May 2021|archive-date=4 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504214943/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/04/mexico-train-collapse-death-toll-anger|url-status=live}} which increased after Line 12's overpass collapse in southern Mexico City, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people in 2021.{{cite web|url=https://lasillarota.com/metropoli/2023/1/1/metro-cdmx-accidentes-se-duplican-en-la-era-sheinbaum-407868.html|title=Metro CDMX: accidentes se duplican en la era Sheinbaum|work=La Silla Rota|date=1 January 2023|first=Mariluz|last=Roldán|trans-title=Metro CDMX: accidents double in the Sheinbaum era|language=es|access-date=15 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102205848/https://lasillarota.com/metropoli/2023/1/1/metro-cdmx-accidentes-se-duplican-en-la-era-sheinbaum-407868.html|archive-date=2 January 2023|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://obras.expansion.mx/infraestructura/2022/07/04/accidentes-del-metro-desde-2020|title=El Metro en la CDMX: acumula suspensiones de servicio y poco mantenimiento|language=Es|trans-title=The Metro in the CDMX: accumulated service suspensions and little maintenance|work=Expansión|date=4 July 2022|access-date=15 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203065517/https://obras.expansion.mx/infraestructura/2022/07/04/accidentes-del-metro-desde-2020|archive-date=3 December 2022|url-status=live}} Previous accidents included a train crash at Tacubaya station caused by a train driver who disregarded parking guidelines and caused the train's brakes to fail,{{cite web|url=https://www.milenio.com/policia/choque-del-metro-por-falla-humana-enjuiciaran-a-dos|title=Choque del Metro Tacubaya, por falla humana; enjuiciarán a dos|language=es|trans-title=Tacubaya station crash caused by human error; two to be prosecuted|first1=Israel|last1=Navarro|first2=Ignacio|last2=Alzaga|location=Mexico City|work=Milenio|date=1 April 2021|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-date=4 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504164451/https://www.milenio.com/policia/choque-del-metro-por-falla-humana-enjuiciaran-a-dos|url-status=live}} and a fire in the Metro's downtown headquarters where a police officer was killed, 30 people resulted hospitalized,{{cite news |last=Sheridan |first=Mary Beth |date=4 May 2021 |title=Mexico City subway overpass collapses; at least 13 dead as metro cars topple |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/05/04/mexico-city-metro-train-platform-collapse/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=4 May 2021 |archive-date=4 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504152742/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/05/04/mexico-city-metro-train-platform-collapse/ |url-status=live}} and the lengthy suspension of service of six subway lines, including Line 3.{{cite web|url=https://www.excelsior.com.mx/comunidad/reabren-lineas-4-5-y-6-del-metro-el-servicio-es-lento/1426559|title=Reabren líneas 4, 5 y 6 del Metro, el servicio es lento|date=12 January 2021|access-date=6 May 2021|work=Excélsior|language=es|trans-title=Lines 4, 5 and 6 are reopened, service is slow|archive-date=6 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506230144/https://www.excelsior.com.mx/comunidad/reabren-lineas-4-5-y-6-del-metro-el-servicio-es-lento/1426559|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.chilango.com/noticias/cuando-abren-la-linea-1-del-metro/|title=Ya hay fechas para reabrir las líneas 1, 2 y 3 del Metro|trans-title=There are already dates for reopening Metro Lines 1, 2 and 3|work=Chilango|date=17 January 2021|language=es|access-date=6 May 2021|archive-date=7 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507154530/https://www.chilango.com/noticias/cuando-abren-la-linea-1-del-metro/|url-status=live}}

After conducting an investigation into the 2021 collapse of the bridge in Line 12, DNV, the company hired by the city government, came to the conclusion that the overpass collapsed because it was built without quality and safety standards and that buckling of the girders would have been discovered if maintenance checks had been performed. The report was labeled "biased" by Mexico City mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, who also questioned the firm's methodology for concluding that maintenance checks were not performed.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexico-city-metro-accident-partly-due-lack-maintenance-third-audit-finds-2022-05-10/|title=Mexico City metro accident partly due to lack of maintenance, third audit finds|work=Reuters|first1=Dave|last1=Graham|first2=Diego|last2=Oré|date=10 May 2022|access-date=22 January 2023}}

=Line 3=

{{Main|Mexico City Metro Line 3}}

Line 3, also known as the Olive Line in reference to its color on the system map, runs from the northern borough of Gustavo A. Madero, to the south-central borough of Coyoacán. In 2022, it was the second most used line, servicing 117 million passengers. The line was the third one to be built; Ingeniería de Sistemas de Transportes Metropolitano, Electrometro, and Cometro, the latter a subsidiary of Empresas ICA, constructed it.{{cite web|url=http://infraestructura.ingenet.com.mx/2009/07/linea-3-ciudad-de-mexico/|title=Línea 3, Ciudad de México|trans-title=Line 3, Mexico City|language=es|publisher=iNGENET Infraestructura|access-date=8 May 2020|archive-date=10 September 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910122759/http://infraestructura.ingenet.com.mx/2009/07/linea-3-ciudad-de-mexico/|date=20 July 2009}} It was inaugurated on 20 November 1970 by Gustavo Díaz Ordaz and ran from Tlatelolco to Hospital General stations;{{cite web|url=https://politica.expansion.mx/cdmx/2023/01/07/esta-en-un-programa-de-inspeccion-la-linea-3-del-metro-donde-ocurrio-el-choque|title=Está en un programa de inspección la Línea 3 del Metro, donde ocurrió el choque|trans-title=Metro Line 3, where the crash occurred, is under an inspection program|language=es|work=Expansión|date=7 January 2023|access-date=15 January 2023|archive-date=7 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107222052/https://politica.expansion.mx/cdmx/2023/01/07/esta-en-un-programa-de-inspeccion-la-linea-3-del-metro-donde-ocurrio-el-choque|url-status=live}} subsequently, it began a northward expansion, first to La Raza station and eventually to Indios Verdes station, which became its terminus on 1 December 1979.{{cite web|url=https://www.radioformula.com.mx/cdmx/2023/1/7/la-historia-de-la-linea-745310.html|title=La historia de la Línea 3|trans-title=The history of Line 3|work=Radio Fórmula|first=Ixtlixochitl|last=López Ibarra|language=es|date=7 January 2023|access-date=15 January 2023|url-status=live|archive-date=12 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112163615/https://www.radioformula.com.mx/cdmx/2023/1/7/la-historia-de-la-linea-745310.html}}

Train crash

On January 7, 2023, two trains collided between La Raza and Potrero on Metro Line 3.{{cite web |title=Subway train collision in Mexico City kills 1, injures 57 |url=https://apnews.com/article/mexico-city-caribbean-accidents-5f604dfae19afaef940260065cd43e69 |website=Associated Press |date=7 January 2023 |access-date=27 January 2023}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

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{{Railway accidents and incidents in 2023}}

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Category:2020s in Mexico City

Category:2023 disasters in Mexico

Train crash, 2023

Category:January 2023 in Mexico

Train crash, 2023

Category:Railway accidents in 2023

Category:Train collisions in Mexico