On September 8, 2025, a freight train operated by Canadian Pacific Kansas City of Mexico collided with a double-decker passenger bus, causing at least 10 deaths and leaving more than 50 people injured. The accident occurred in Atlacomulco, an industrial municipality located about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northwest of Mexico City, at a railroad crossing with no protective barriers or electronic warning signals.
Collision at Unguarded Crossing Shatters Morning Commute
According to local officials, the bus was carrying workers and commuters when it attempted to cross the tracks during heavy traffic. Witnesses stated that the train repeatedly sounded its horn, but the vehicle was unable to clear the crossing in time. The impact was so forceful that the bus was torn apart, scattering debris and personal belongings across the tracks and surrounding roadway. Emergency responders described the scene as one of the most devastating accidents in recent years.
First responders, including the Red Cross, State Police, and National Guard, arrived quickly to aid survivors. Victims were transported to multiple hospitals in the State of Mexico, while fire crews worked to remove the wreckage. Authorities temporarily closed the crossing and surrounding roads, causing significant traffic disruptions in the region.
Families Search for Answers at Hospitals and the Crash Site
In the hours after the collision, hospitals in Atlacomulco and nearby communities were overwhelmed as relatives gathered to identify victims and receive updates on the injured. Medical staff read out patient names via loudspeaker while ambulances moved critically injured passengers to better-equipped facilities. Many family members faced long waits and conflicting information as officials worked to confirm identities.
Among those searching for loved ones was Isabel Segundo, whose 17-year-old daughter, Yoana, had boarded the ill-fated bus earlier that morning on her way to work as a domestic employee. Segundo recalled that she had spoken to her daughter by phone shortly before the collision and became frantic when Yoana stopped answering. Hours later, she was relieved to learn her daughter had survived with injuries. “I thought I had lost her,” she told local media.
Other families were less fortunate. Rebeca Miranda, who rushed to the crash site upon hearing the news, later confirmed that her sister was among the injured while her sister’s daughter-in-law had died in the collision. “We just want answers and support,” Miranda said. Similar scenes played out across hospitals and temporary shelters as survivors received treatment and grieving relatives waited for official confirmation of fatalities.
Local officials set up emergency assistance points to provide information, psychological support, and logistical help for families. The State of Mexico government pledged to cover funeral and medical expenses for victims, while federal authorities promised a full investigation into the cause of the crash and the adequacy of safety measures at the site.
Widespread Safety Concerns and Rising Accident Trend
The Atlacomulco crash has once again highlighted growing concerns over railroad crossing safety in Mexico. According to national transport data, accidents at grade crossings have risen steadily in recent years, increasing from 602 incidents in 2020 to 800 in the most recent reporting year. Many of these crossings lack automated gates, flashing lights, or even basic signage, leaving drivers vulnerable to collisions with fast-moving freight trains.
This was not an isolated event. In August 2025, a bus-train crash in Guanajuato state killed six passengers, while a 2019 collision in Querétaro left nine people dead. Transport unions have long called for increased investment in railway safety infrastructure, citing the country’s growing freight traffic and aging commuter systems. Mexico’s expanding industrial corridors have led to greater reliance on rail transport, increasing the likelihood of accidents where roads and railways intersect.
In response to the latest tragedy, the bus company Herradura de Plata announced it would cooperate fully with investigators and provide medical, psychological, legal, and logistical support to victims and their families. The company also suspended operations of similar routes pending the outcome of the investigation. Meanwhile, Canadian Pacific Kansas City of Mexico expressed condolences and reiterated calls for motorists to stop at crossings and observe posted signs, stressing that trains require long distances to brake and cannot avoid collisions once vehicles are on the tracks.
Transportation experts argue that more comprehensive solutions are needed. Suggestions include the installation of automated barriers, warning lights, and public awareness campaigns to improve driver behavior near railways. Federal officials indicated that funding for improved crossing safety may be accelerated, though concrete commitments have yet to be announced. For the families affected by this tragedy, the broader debate over infrastructure investment comes too late, but many hope it will prevent similar disasters in the future.