The Copper Canyon tourist train known as El Chepe will not resume normal services until October 12 due to cleanup and repair work of the track following recent storm damage, the company that operates the train said today.

Grupo México Transportes said in a statement that the railroad is impassable between the stations of Temoris in Chihuahua and Los Mochis in Sinaloa.

The Chepe Express has been suspended completely while the Chepe Regional is only operating between Chihuahua city and San Rafael in the same state.

Anyone with upcoming reservations on the train is advised to speak to their travel agent or the company.

Tropical Depression 19-E caused widespread damage in Sinaloa, especially in Los Mochis and the state capital Culiacán. Up to 300,000 homes were affected by flooding. Heavy rains also affected the neighboring states of Chihuahua and Sonora.

Sinaloa Governor Quirino Ordaz Coppel has asked the federal government to provide extra resources through the Natural Disaster Fund (Fonden) to assist victims.

Residents of some affected municipalities, especially Ahome, Navolato and parts of Culiacán, lost everything in the flooding, he said.

The governor also announced today the creation of an 18-million-peso (US $957,300) fund to support small and medium businesses that sustained flood damage in the 11 municipalities where a state of emergency was declared.

Source: El Financiero (sp)