Follow-up: Three Runaway Grain Wagons Hit a Freight Locomotive in Martorell, Barcelona Province: Driver Unhurt and Taken for a Check-up
A freight rail accident occurred on the afternoon of November 3 in Martorell, a city in Barcelona Province, Catalonia, Spain: three grain-laden freight wagons broke free from a company's private rail siding, rolled uncontrolled and struck a Renfe Mercancías freight locomotive, derailing in the process. Spain's rail infrastructure manager Adif and the national railway both said the accident did not affect local commuter rail services or rail traffic.
According to Spanish media reports, the accident occurred at about 3:20 p.m. local time. The runaway wagons came from the private siding of a Cargill facility, which connects to the national rail network through switches. After breaking away, the wagons rolled without a driver along the track, entered the general network and hit the cab of a Class 253 freight locomotive. The driver in the locomotive was unhurt and was taken to a medical centre for an examination in line with protocol; no other injuries were reported.
Adif and Renfe Mercancías have opened a technical investigation covering the wagons' brakes, couplings and securing devices, and whether operating procedures for shunting on private sidings were followed. Both said they would not comment on the cause or possible liability until the investigation is complete.
The accident is unrelated to Spain's recent fatal rail crashes, but it comes at a moment when the country's rail safety is under intense scrutiny: on the same day, Transport Minister Óscar Puente announced his resignation in Congress, saying he could not stay on after two serious accidents within a year. On October 28, two high-speed trains collided near Urda, killing 69 people; in January, a collision near Adamuz killed 46.
Related: Follow-up: Spain's Transport Minister Puente Resigns over High-Speed Train Collision
Source: Adif
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：西班牙国家铁路253型货运机车（资料图，摄于加泰罗尼亚Portbou）。摄影：Falk2，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: A Renfe Class 253 freight locomotive (file photo, Portbou, Catalonia). By Falk2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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