Amidst staggered strikes in the Mexico City Metro, union leader Fernando Espino Arévalo warned of a scenario of 'permanent risk' in the system's operation, particularly on Line 1, where —he claimed— conditions exist that could lead to a derailment.
The statements come in a context of growing tension between workers and Mexico City authorities due to a lack of maintenance and resources.
'Permanent risk': Fernando Espino During an interview with Ciro Gomez Leyva, Espino alerted to the critical state of the infrastructure. 'We are in permanent risk of a derailment on Line 1, we have more than 7,000 fractured sleepers,' he stated.
Espino also accused that the budget allocated to the Metro is 'hijacked'. This situation has led to delays, overcrowding, and long wait times for millions of users, especially on key lines. 'In essence, it is abandoned,' he maintained.
Regarding the rolling stock, he pointed out that of the 391 existing trains, 70% have not received major maintenance, despite many having traveled over two million kilometers, far exceeding the recommended limit.
Strike, pressure, and operational crisis The partial strike implemented by the union has intensified service disruptions. The union warned that if no dialogue exists with the Mexico City government, protests could escalate to a total strike. 'We don't even have waste cloth, work clothes, or personal safety equipment,' he explained. This condition, he said, compromises the stability of the tracks.
The leader also denounced recurrent failures due to a lack of maintenance: 'We have constant short circuits on all lines.'
This is compounded by a lack of basic supplies.
As a pressure measure, workers suspended overtime, which has resulted in the loss of approximately 800 train trips per day.
