This Monday afternoon, there were problems on lines 8 and 9 of the Mexico City Metro. The first incident occurred on Line 8, where a person threw a metallic object onto the tracks, causing a short circuit and the interruption of service at the Constitución de 1917 station in Iztapalapa.
Subsequently, on Line 9, there was an incident with the electrical supply at the Velódromo and Ciudad Deportiva interstation, which forced the evacuation of thousands of passengers from the tracks. Despite attempts to restore service, the parallel responses through RTP and Metrobús were insufficient to handle the high number of metro users.
After the protests and inconveniences in the Metro, the mayor of Iztacalco, Clara Brugada, announced an investment of $240 million to improve the conditions of the markets in the area. Meanwhile, the reopening of some stations on Line 9 was expected in March, although the complete finishing of the work remains uncertain due to delays caused by the Chinese contractor, CRRC.
The head of government, Claudia Sheinbaum, acknowledged during a press conference the need for maintenance and rehabilitation work on the Metro system following the incidents. Despite efforts to address renovations on different lines, the completion of projects such as on Line 1 has faced delays, complicating service improvements.
The Secretary of Mobility of Mexico City, Héctor Ulises García Nieto, reported that the technical problems on lines 8 and 9 were resolved. However, President Sheinbaum emphasized the urgency of comprehensive rehabilitation throughout the system. Amid this situation, a transition of authorities in the Metro is taking place, with the possible succession of Guillermo Calderón by former Cuajimalpa mayor Adrián Rubalcava.
The collapse on lines 8 and 9 generated chaotic scenes in the eastern part of the city during peak hours, highlighting the fragility of the underground transportation system in Mexico City.
