The stoppage is “completely unrelated to our company, impeding our ability to continue without risks to the protesters,” railroad officials say.
Michoacán has been the site of ongoing conflicts involving a criminal cartel and citizen pushbacks against them, according to Mexico News Daily, which reported that the federal government sent 200 army troops to the region last weekend.
The U.S. State Department has issued a travel warning affecting most of the state.
The protests have impacted KCSM service to the port of Lázaro Cárdenas and KCS officials are concerned that localized problems in Michoacán will disrupt the company’s network throughout Mexico.
To work around the blockage, KCS officials say they are considering arranging detours, engaging in dialogue with all levels of state and federal government to resolve the issue, and initiating legal action.
As part of their strike for more pay and benefits, in January and February teachers in Michoacán blocked at least 250 trains of KCSM and Mexico’s largest rail carrier, Ferromex, and closed access to Lázaro Cárdenas.
