MEXICO CITY, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Ten people were killed

and at least 61 were injured in central Mexico when a freight

train smashed into a double-decker passenger bus, which the

train operator said had been attempting to pass in front of the

moving train.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City ( CP ) de Mexico , the

railway, expressed its condolences to the victims' families and

called on drivers to respect road signs and stop orders at

railroad crossings.

Bus operator Herradura de Plata did not immediately respond

to a request for comment.

Images from the scene showed the front part of the top deck

of the bus smashed in and its metal frame badly dented, as first

responders cordoned off the area.

The collision happened in an industrial zone on the highway

between Atlacomulco, a town some 115 km (71 miles) northwest of

the capital Mexico City, and Maravatio, in nearby Michoacan

state, local authorities said.

The State of Mexico's attorney general's office said seven

women and three men were killed.

Buses are a major mode of transport in Mexico, where,

although freight rail lines are common, routes for passenger

trains remain limited.

The government of President Claudia Sheinbaum is looking to

dramatically expand the nation's passenger rail network to

connect many parts of northern and central Mexico.