In Zarzalejo in the Spanish region of Madrid a freight train derailed early on Sunday morning. The driver was slightly injured and taken to hospital. The accident disrupted rail services between Zarzalejo and Robledo de Chavela and affected, among other things, the connection between Madrid and Ávila.
According to the regional emergency service, as reported by the EFE news agency, the driver complained of back pain. He was treated at Puerta de Hierro Hospital. His condition was not serious. The emergency service treated him at around 3.48 am on 15 November, it said.
The rail operator Renfe set up a replacement bus service between El Escorial and Robledo de Chavela. Medium-distance trains between Madrid and Ávila were affected. Services between Madrid and Salamanca were also disrupted, according to the news website Salamanca24horas. Alvia trains between the two cities were running normally, it said.
The infrastructure manager Adif was working to restore train services, according to a report by radio station Cadena SER. Salamanca24horas reported on Sunday morning, citing Renfe, that the company expected the disruption to last throughout Sunday. The reports available do not say whether services have since resumed. Travellers should therefore check the latest information from the rail operator.
According to EFE, citing railway sources, the train belonged to the company Captrain. Cadena SER reported that the locomotive was affected and that the train consisted of 17 carriages. The broadcaster attributed the accident to a landslip following heavy rain. The reports reviewed contain no confirmation of this account by the relevant investigating authority. The cause therefore cannot yet be described as established.
A freight train had already derailed in the area in June. At the time, services between El Escorial and Zarzalejo had to be suspended. The Europa Press news agency reported that the line reopened on 19 June. No connection between the two incidents has been established.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).