Mexican Railway Operator Halts Trains Because So Many Migrants Are Climbing Aboard and Getting Hurt

MEXICO CITY (AP) A Mexican railway operator announced Tuesday it is temporarily suspending train runs in the northern part of the country because so many migrants are climbing aboard freight cars and getting hurt in the process.

Ferromex said it has temporarily ordered a halt to 60 trains carrying cargo that would fill 1,800 tractor trailers. It said some international trade would be affected by the stoppage.

In recent days, there have been about a "half-dozen regrettable cases of injuries or deaths among migrants hopping freight cars, the company said in a statement.

The company, owned by conglomerate Grupo Mexico, said some migrants even hopped on moving freight cars despite the grave danger that represents.

There has been a significant increase in the number of migrants in recent days, Ferromex said in the statement, adding that it was stopping the trains to protect the physical safety of the migrants, while it awaited action by authorities to solve the problem.

The 25 Best Countries in the World

View All 29 Slides

It said there were about 1,500 people gathered at a rail yard in the city of Torreon, in the northern border state of Coahuila. The company also reported about 800 migrants waiting at the freight yards in Irapuato, in the north-central state of Guanajuato.