A freight train collided with a double-decker passenger bus in central Mexico on the morning of September 8, 2025, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 individuals and injuring over 60 others in the industrial town of Atlacomulco.
The incident occurred around 6:30 a.m. in an industrial area on the highway between Atlacomulco, approximately 71 miles northwest of Mexico City, and Maravatio in the state of Michoacán. The State of Mexico’s attorney general’s office reported that the deceased included seven women and three men.
Video surveillance documented the collision, showing the Herradura de Plata bus moving slowly across the train tracks amid heavy traffic when the fast-approaching locomotive struck the vehicle at its midpoint. The force of the train carried the bus along the tracks, splitting it in half and removing its roof.
Emergency personnel indicated that at least 61 people suffered injuries, with some in critical condition. The injured were taken to various hospitals across the state, while responders secured the crash site to recover bodies and assist the injured.
Rebeca Miranda, whose sister and sister’s daughter-in-law were on the bus, awaited news from officials. Her sister survived and was hospitalized, while her daughter-in-law perished in the crash. Both were employed as domestic workers. Miranda commented, “It’s really unfortunate. Why? To beat the train. Those are lives.”
Witnesses and video evidence indicated that there were no crossing gates or warning lights at the crash site, though signage was present.. Vehicles had been crossing the tracks shortly before the bus made its attempt, as traffic moving in the opposite direction halted when the bus entered the crossing.
Canadian Pacific Kansas City of Mexico, the Calgary-based company responsible for the freight train, confirmed the accident and expressed condolences to the victims’ families. The company stated that its personnel were cooperating with authorities and emphasized the importance of adhering to railroad stop signs and safety measures at crossings to avert similar occurrences.
The bus company, Herradura de Plata, expressed regret and said it is providing medical, psychological, legal, and logistical support to those affected. Images from the scene showed significant damage to the bus, including a shattered front windscreen, a missing rear section, and a severely dented metal frame.
The prosecutor’s office in the State of Mexico has initiated an investigation into the circumstances of the crash. Initial reports suggest the bus had been stationary in traffic for several minutes before attempting to cross the tracks, where it was hit by the train.
This accident adds to the growing list of fatal transportation incidents in Mexico, where bus accidents are a common occurrence. The latest federal highway collision report from the Mexican government recorded 12,099 accidents in 2023, causing over $100 million in damages, 6,400 injuries, and nearly 1,900 fatalities.
Recent comparable events include a deadly train crash in Guanajuato state last month that resulted in six deaths when a locomotive hit several vehicles. In February 2025, over 40 people died when a bus en route from Cancun to Tabasco collided with a trailer truck and caught fire in southern Mexico.
Atlacomulco city officials have urged residents to avoid the crash site and have expressed solidarity with the affected families. The Canadian Pacific Kansas City railway system operates across Canada, the United States, and Mexico as part of an integrated transport network.
Buses are a primary mode of transportation in Mexico, where passenger train routes are limited, despite the prevalence of freight train operations. President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration has proposed expanding the passenger rail network to connect the northern and central regions of the country.
