Spanish train derailment

[The Redcoat]

Sky News and other sources are reporting that a train going from Malaga to Madrid derailed and caused a train on the adjacent track to derail as well. At least 21 people have been killed so far.

https://news.sky.com/liveblog-webview/at-least-fiv...

[scenario8]

What a human tragedy.

The bbc reports initial reporters are baffled by quite what might have been the cause. I guess we shall find out more as time passes.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cedw6ylpynyo

[Ian Geary]

Sounds bad.

I recall another high speed derailment about a decade ago, but in that case the driver was speeding into a bend.

Here it seems the section of track was straight. So based on no knowledge it's probably a maintenance issue or something on the track?

Also, those trains go impressively fast, but then Spain is largely empty in the interior, so no bats etc to rehouse.

Ian

[MattyD803]

Completely unverified, but I have seen a couple of video's posted on X suggesting a very violent/bumpy ride along that section of line prior to the accident...? As above, time will tell once there is daylight and initial investigations can begin. Horrific either way - those fatality numbers are not insignificant.

[Earthdweller]

Terrible accident and loss of life

You get used to hearing about these kind of things in India and the like, surprising when it happens much closer to home

Are Spain's railways generally well thought of and maintained to a high standard/safety record?

[Panamax]

At least 39 dead so a dreadful incident.

As I was on the train through northern France at 300kmh a couple of days ago I was thinking that if there was any sort of obstruction or derailment it would be like a plane crash. And now we have one in Spain. Very sad.

[milesgiles]

Has been unusually wet last few months, almost certainly the track bed has been eroded such that the rails aren’t level. Chain reaction down the carriages magnifying vibration in intensity with each one

[ralphrj]

MattyD803 said:

Completely unverified, but I have seen a couple of video's posted on X suggesting a very violent/bumpy ride along that section of line prior to the accident...? As above, time will tell once there is daylight and initial investigations can begin. Horrific either way - those fatality numbers are not insignificant.

If passengers on the train were concerned enough about a bumpy ride to start recording then that might indicate an issue with the train rather than the track.

If so then it immediately made me think of the wheel failure that caused the derailment in Germany in the late 90s.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eschede_train_disast...

[aeropilot]

ralphrj said:

MattyD803 said:

Completely unverified, but I have seen a couple of video's posted on X suggesting a very violent/bumpy ride along that section of line prior to the accident...? As above, time will tell once there is daylight and initial investigations can begin. Horrific either way - those fatality numbers are not insignificant.

If passengers on the train were concerned enough about a bumpy ride to start recording then that might indicate an issue with the train rather than the track.

Apprentley, there was some maintainence done recently on that section of track..........

[Shooter McGavin]

aeropilot said:

ralphrj said:

MattyD803 said:

Completely unverified, but I have seen a couple of video's posted on X suggesting a very violent/bumpy ride along that section of line prior to the accident...? As above, time will tell once there is daylight and initial investigations can begin. Horrific either way - those fatality numbers are not insignificant.

If passengers on the train were concerned enough about a bumpy ride to start recording then that might indicate an issue with the train rather than the track.

Apprentley, there was some maintainence done recently on that section of track..........

BBC reporting that "the crash took place on a straight section of track that had been completely renovated last May after major investment"

[MattyD803]

Some suggestion today there was a defect, or indeed a gap had opened up at a joint in one the rails....In fact, BBC news has a picture of something akin to this in its latest update...? Pure speculation at this point of course but considering how recent this stretch was renewed, you can only assume something wasn't quite correctly installed/torqued up/welded during the renewals...?

[Panamax]

One of things which strikes me is these trains face similar issues to world speed record cars, namely the massive forces that exist within a big wheel turning at high rpm and in contact with a surface. Additionally on a high speed train the wheel flanges must avoid contact with the rails. Any disruption of a wheel can lead directly to big trouble. This linked article is somewhat technical but the Abstract gives a flavour of the technicalities.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/...

They now seem to be talking about 41 dead, 120 injured and, shockingly, around 43 "missing", believed to be still under the wreckage. Ghastly.

Reuters: "Experts probing the cause of Sunday's derailment of a high-speed train in Spain, which killed at least 39 people, found a broken joint on the rails, according to a source briefed on initial investigations into the disaster."

[airbusA346]

Train driver dead, 20 injured after train derailment near city, police say

A commuter train has derailed near Barcelona after a retaining wall fell onto the tracks, Spanish emergency services reported.

https://news.sky.com/story/barcelona-train-crash-l...