Serious Train Derailment in Madrid: Investigation Underway Amidst Safety Concerns
The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has released a report regarding a serious train derailment that occurred last Saturday in the tunnel connecting Madrid's Atocha and Chamartín stations. The incident, classified as severe, has prompted a mandatory technical investigation. According to the report, the train was composed of two units of a regional high-speed train, one of which was out of order and was being towed. The train departed from La Sagra, en route to the Fuencarral workshops.
As it approached Chamartín station, the leading unit, responsible for towing, suffered a traction failure, rendering it unable to navigate the ramp leading into the station. In an effort to resolve the issue, the driver and control station proposed a maneuver to reverse the train and gain traction from a flatter section. However, as preparations were made, the broken unit, which was being towed, separated from its coupling and began to drift uncontrollably down the tunnel, devoid of brakes or battery, with two technicians still on board.
In light of ongoing investigations, both Adif and Renfe have declined to comment on leaked audio that surfaced. The recording, purportedly between employees of the rail management company, suggests that the drifting unit veered towards a section where a passenger train had stopped. Allegedly, someone made the critical decision to divert the train in an attempt to avert a collision, as reported by Puente.
After drifting for more than four kilometers, the runaway unit accelerated significantly by the time it reached the Jardín Botánico station, leading to a track change from track 1 to track 2. Subsequently, the unit derailed after making the turn, colliding with the tunnel wall. The report indicates that the first three cars of the train overturned, while the fourth car stayed upright but derailed. Fortunately, the two maintenance technicians on board managed to escape without injuries, and there were no fatalities or serious injuries reported. However, the incident has resulted in extensive damage to both the derailed train and the tunnel infrastructure.
In the aftermath of the derailment, Adif has reassured the public that rail services between Valencia and Madrid will continue to operate normally, particularly from Chamartín, maintaining the schedule that had been in place before the accident that caused chaos in rail transport.
Renfe, alongside its affiliated brands AVE, Avlo, Ouigo, and Iryo, announced that they would resume services over the weekend from Chamartín to the Levante corridor, which was impacted by the incident. Initially, there were discussions of shifting operations to Atocha, but plans have been adjusted.
Renfe estimates that approximately 15,000 passengers have been affected by the disruptions at both Atocha and Chamartín stations, with a total of 22 train cancellations and 26 services impacted, according to Óscar Gómez Barbero, the general director of Business and Operations for the public railway company.
As investigations continue into this serious derailment, the focus remains on ensuring the safety of train operations in the region and addressing any underlying issues that may have contributed to this alarming incident.
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