Photos courtesy of: Héctor Aldrete Germán, Periodico De Frente, Puerto Peñasco, Sonora
On Monday, December 8th, overweight cargo led to the derailing of 18 train cars along the Puerto Peñasco – Golfo Santa Clara stretch just North of Puerto Peñasco, leading to a temporary road closure.
The derailing occurred at 3:44 a.m. on Monday morning when the weight of shredded iron, loading down 13 of the train’s cars traveling from North to South, led to the sinking of one of the cars which then caused other cars to bump into each other and off the tracks.
The incredible incident occurred precisely near the intersection leading to the Gulf of Santa Clara (Coastal Highway) and luckily no injuries were reported. However, this has led to the temporary closure of this intersection, which is often taken as a short cut for those driving to Puerto Peñasco from Sonoyta. Those traveling from San Luis Río Colorado to Puerto Peñasco should continue straight toward the Sandy Beach condo complex area as an alternative route to town. Similarly, those coming from Sonoyta in direction of Sandy Beach, Laguna del Mar, Laguna Shores, or Cholla Bay are encouraged to continue on Highway 8 through town before doubling back.
Nicandro Cornejo, Municipal Director of Civil Protection, indicated the area has been roped off by personnel from the Naval Sector as well as Municipal Public Safety. Ferromex (the company in charge of the railroad) has sent special cranes to lift the material, as well as wagons to help clear the damage.
Cornejo indicated the clean-up process could take from 3 days to a week, which also means a halt to the twice daily train that passes through town.
It is worth noting, when heading North, the daily cargo trains passing through the city often carry up to 50 people or more who climb aboard at rest stops in different parts of the country as they make their way toward the US/Mexico border.