Following a freight train derailment yesterday afternoon, neither RENFE nor ADIF have provided timelines for service restoration. The damage to the railway infrastructure has proven more significant than initially anticipated, suggesting that repair work may extend for several days.
Heavy machinery and specialized equipment have been deployed to the incident site, located near the La Manguilla Park in El Escorial, to address the damaged tracks. The immediate priority is to re-rail the four wagons that left the track, facilitating their eventual removal and partially clearing the infrastructure.
“"Work is currently ongoing to remove the train using specialized machinery. Once these operations are complete, maintenance teams will assess the condition of the facilities and carry out necessary repairs to restore rail traffic as soon as possible."
ADIF sources confirmed that the process of removing the train is underway. Following this, maintenance crews will evaluate the damage and undertake the required repairs to normalize the service promptly. In the interim, an alternative road transport plan has been established between Zarzalejo and El Escorial.
The service disruption began around 5:30 PM yesterday when several axles of the freight train derailed, as reported by an ADIF spokesperson. The train encroached upon the adjacent track's clearance gauge, preventing passage until the affected train is removed.
The mayor of El Escorial, Antonio Vicente, along with local police officers, visited the scene yesterday afternoon to monitor the situation and receive updates on the incident's progress.
RENFE has arranged an alternative bus service for affected medium-distance trains, covering the route between El Escorial and Zarzalejo. Overall train traffic is experiencing delays in both directions. Additionally, Cercanías Madrid has organized a bus service connecting El Escorial and Ávila, making stops at intermediate stations such as Zarzalejo, Robledo de Chavela, and Santa María de la Alameda.
