The train that derailed a week ago in Madrid, between the Atocha and Chamartín stations, is still in the same place. They haven’t managed to get it off the rails yet. and it will not be easy to remove it. This involves time and also rescheduling the routes of other trains.
A week after the chaos, the train continues on the tracks that connect Chamartín and Atocha. The extraction was expected to take place this weekend, but it ultimately did not happen. “It’s not a simple operation. The opening of the tunnel makes it difficult to act.”explained Rafa Escuchero, spokesperson for the Railway Union.
There are two options: first, cut it and remove it in several parts, which is the least likely. The second, lift it up and let it out. And there are two other options. Escuchero himself assured that “once on the right track, consider the possibility of towing it with another vehicle” and that “If there is no possibility of putting it on track, they will have to jack it up on top of the Diploris”.
Diploris are track elements that fit into the rails, as if they were portable mobile platforms. An operation of which two teams will be in charge: the Renfe Rescue Brigadeuntil you exit the tunnel; and then, an ADIF maintenance team to assess the state of infrastructure.
The operation will take time, at least a whole weekend. This will force travel to be rescheduled. “The unknown that remains unresolved at the moment is Why did this vehicle become uncoupled from the person who was towing it?“, underlined the president of the Railway Union. The investigation has already started and certain details have been put forward which confirm that there was a traction failure, which caused the derailment and affected more than 17,000 passengers .
