Madrid Train Derailment: Recovery Operations Underway Amid Investigations
In a notable turn of events, Adif and Renfe are taking significant steps to recover a train that derailed in a tunnel linking the Atocha and Chamartín train stations in Madrid on Saturday, October 19. The companies announced a strategic plan involving the disassembly of the train, aiming to extract its parts progressively without disrupting rail traffic. This complex operation will be conducted during the night over several days, signifying an unprecedented technical and logistical effort in the railway sector.
The objective is clear: restore the functionality of the affected tracks as swiftly as possible while ensuring the safety of passengers and personnel involved in the recovery process, according to a joint statement from both companies. The Renfe rescue brigade is slated to manage the extraction operations, with Adif's incident brigade poised to assess the damage to the infrastructure once the train has been removed.
Initially, the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility had hoped to clear the train over the past weekend, temporarily redirecting Levante trains to operate from Atocha instead of their usual Chamartín station. However, assurances from Adif and Renfe indicated that train operations would not be interrupted, complicating the removal timeline.
An alarming preliminary report from the Railway Accident Investigation Commission (CIAB) provides insight into the cause of the derailment. The report reveals that the train, identified as train number 97015, was traveling at high speed for over 4 kilometers before the derailment occurred. This high-speed unit, en route from La Sagra, Toledo, to the Fuencarral workshops in Madrid, comprised two units of the regional high-speed train series 114, with the lead unit experiencing a traction failure when attempting to ascend the ramp at Chamartín station.
In an effort to overcome this obstacle, the driver and control center agreed to reverse the train to gather momentum. However, during this maneuver, the second unit detached from its coupling and rolled downhill in the tunnel, completely devoid of brakes and battery power, with two maintenance technicians on board.
After drifting for more than four kilometers through a gradient-laden tunnel, the unbraked unit transitioned tracks at the Jardín Botánico standardization point before derailing in a curve and colliding with the tunnel wall. Fortunately, the two technicians managed to escape unharmed, and reports indicate that there were no fatalities or serious injuries. Still, the incident caused considerable damage to the derailed unit and the tunnel infrastructure, categorizing it as a serious accident per the railway accident investigation regulatory framework due to the high impact on safety management.
In the aftermath of this incident, Adif considered temporarily relocating entry and exit points for high-speed trains from Chamartín to Atocha to maintain operations. Despite initial concerns, both Renfe Ouigo and Iryo were assured their services could continue from their usual station.
Concurrently, another derailment incident took place over the weekend in Barcelona, leading to traffic disruptions on the R4 and R8 lines of Rodalies but fortunately causing no injuries. The causes of this separate incident remain under investigation.
As recovery efforts continue in Madrid, authorities remain focused on addressing the immediate logistical challenges, ensuring safe rail operations, and investigating the underlying causes of these significant accidents.
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