Freight train derailment in Zarzalejo cuts Media Distancia regional trains between Madrid and Ávila

A freight train derailed in the early hours of Sunday, November 15, on the line linking Madrid and Ávila, near Zarzalejo (Madrid), according to sources from the Community of Madrid emergency service quoted by EFE. The driver, who has back pain, was treated by SUMMA 112 at around 3:48 and taken to Puerta de Hierro hospital, and his condition is not serious, according to those sources.

Renfe said on the social network X that service between Robledo de Chavela and Zarzalejo was suspended, affecting the Media Distancia regional trains linking Madrid and Ávila, according to EFE. La Gaceta de Salamanca adds that trains between Madrid and Salamanca are also affected and that Renfe has set up a replacement bus service between El Escorial and Robledo de Chavela until service is restored. According to Diario de León, the closure affects the conventional network and not high-speed lines, and reaches the Media Distancia trains from Madrid to León, Ávila, Valladolid, Palencia, Vitoria and Salamanca.

The train belongs to the company Captrain, according to rail sources quoted by EFE and according to Adif, as reported by La Gaceta de Salamanca. Diario de León says it was running from Trasona (Asturias) to Sagunto (Valencia).

Adif staff have gone to the site to remove the train from the track, but there is no estimate yet of when service will resume, according to sources at the rail infrastructure manager quoted by La Gaceta de Salamanca, which counted four affected trains at 10:15.

The cause of the derailment has not been reported.