Twisted metal and shattered glass marred the landscape of Oaxaca on Sunday as a flagship passenger train derailed, claiming at least 13 lives and turning a symbol of national progress into a scene of tragedy.

The disaster strikes at the heart of Mexico’s ambitious infrastructure push, casting a long shadow over the Interoceanic Train—a project designed to link the Atlantic and Pacific oceans but now plagued by accusations of rushed engineering and compromised safety.

A Flagship Project in Crisis

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the grim toll on Monday, noting that in addition to the fatalities, 98 of the 250 passengers aboard sustained injuries. Five remain in critical condition. Sheinbaum, who pledged to travel to the site immediately, vowed to “rigorously clarify what caused this accident.”

The Interoceanic Train is not merely a transport line; it was conceived as a strategic rival to the Panama Canal, intended to boost global trade logistics. For Kenyans familiar with the grand promises of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), the narrative of high-stakes infrastructure aimed at economic transformation is strikingly familiar.

However, the speed of delivery has drawn sharp criticism. The project was a cornerstone of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s administration. Known popularly as Amlo, the former leader pushed for the train’s completion before his term ended last year, utilizing the military to oversee construction—a move that bypassed many traditional civilian checks and balances.

The Cost of Speed

The derailment in Oaxaca is likely to reignite the debate over the safety of these rapid-rollout projects. The Interoceanic Train operates alongside the Mayan Train, another massive endeavor aimed at tourism and cargo in the Yucatán Peninsula. The Mayan project came with a staggering price tag of $21.6 billion (approx. KES 2.8 trillion), a figure that underscores the immense financial and political capital invested in these rails.

Critics have long warned that the deadline-driven pressure placed on the military engineers may have compromised structural integrity. This fear appears to be materializing, as the safety record of these lines deteriorates:

• Sunday’s Derailment: The deadliest incident to date with 13 confirmed fatalities.
• Crossing Collision: Earlier this month, an Interoceanic train collided with a truck at a grade crossing.
• Mayan Train Incidents: The sister project has already suffered two non-fatal derailments since its inauguration.

Looking Ahead

As investigators comb through the wreckage in southern Mexico, the political fallout is expected to be severe. The government must now balance its narrative of development against the tangible cost of human life.

While the economic logic of an alternative to the Panama Canal remains sound, the execution is under trial. As President Sheinbaum faces the grieving families in Oaxaca, the question remains whether the rush for modernization has come at too high a price for the ordinary citizen.