DistantNews
Support us
Light Rail Closure Surprises Mexico City Residents and Tourists; Passengers Walk Amidst Protests
🇲🇽 Mexico /Culture & Society

Light Rail Closure Surprises Mexico City Residents and Tourists; Passengers Walk Amidst Protests

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • The Mexico City Light Rail service has been unexpectedly closed due to protests by the National Union of Education Workers (CNTE), disrupting travel for residents and tourists.
  • Passengers are being directed to walk to the next station, but face further confusion as stations are closed without clear guidance on alternative transport.
  • Commuters like Eliseo Martínez are experiencing significant delays, losing up to two hours on their journey to Xochimilco, while tourists from Sonora also face extended travel times to reach the Estadio Azteca.

The unexpected closure of the Mexico City Light Rail system has caught many residents and tourists off guard, forcing them to walk along Calzada de Tlalpan to reach their destinations. The disruption is attributed to ongoing protests by the National Union of Education Workers (CNTE).

At the Tasqueña terminal, a police officer was observed directing citizens to walk to the next station, Las Torres. However, upon arrival at Las Torres, passengers found the station closed with no authorities or staff available to provide information on alternative transportation towards Xochimilco. This lack of guidance has left many stranded and confused.

It's a mess, the situation with Metro Line 2 and the Ajolote Train, and I regret that there is no one to guide the citizens, as I have to take double the time to get home to Xochimilco.

— Eliseo MartínezA commuter expresses frustration over the lack of information and increased travel time due to the light rail closure.

Eliseo Martínez, a commuter heading to Xochimilco, described the situation as chaotic, lamenting the lack of information and the significant increase in travel time. He stated that his usual 45-minute commute has now doubled, with an additional two hours expected due to the service suspension.

Tourists from Sonora, visiting to see the Estadio Azteca, also encountered the light rail closure. They reported using a combination of the Metro, Metrobús, and taxis from their accommodation in Chapultepec, but still faced a journey of at least an hour and a half to reach the stadium. Despite the travel challenges, they expressed understanding, acknowledging the mobility issues related to the World Cup preparations.

We have taken the Metro, taken two Ubers, and we live in Chapultepec. They told us the Light Rail wasn't working, and now we are going to walk for about an hour and a half. It's understandable (mobility problem) because it's the World Cup.

— Brother of a tourist familyA tourist describes the difficulties in reaching the Estadio Azteca due to the light rail closure and other transport issues.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog