Intercity train Lisbon–Faro loses carriage mid-journey
A CP Intercidades train traveling between Lisbon-Oriente and Faro lost a carriage mid-journey yesterday, October 13, due to a broken coupling connecting two carriages. The incident occurred between Grândola and Canal Caveira and forced the train to come to a standstill, which was eventually rescued by a freight train.
No injuries were reported, and the situation was quickly controlled, posing no significant danger to passengers. The coupling failure caused the general brake line to be interrupted, resulting in both sections of the train automatically stopping, as provided for in CP's safety system.
The Intercidades train, which left Lisbon at 2:02 PM and was scheduled to arrive in Faro at 5:35 PM, was stopped dead in its tracks, with one carriage isolated a few meters from the rest of the train. Rescue was provided by a Medway freight train, traveling between Setúbal and the Neves Corvo mines. The private carrier's locomotive towed the Intercidades train to Grândola station after dropping its wagons on a siding.
According to rail industry sources, everything indicates that the incident resulted from a maintenance failure. CP is currently facing difficulties in carrying out general overhauls of its carriages, and currently, one in five Intercidades carriages is parked in workshops awaiting maintenance or repair.
The public company suffers from a shortage of skilled workers, which it can't recruit or retain, and budgetary constraints that delay work. In some cases, authorization to purchase parts can take weeks.
Strong travel demand, driven by the Green Rail Pass, has led CP to extend the use of rolling stock that has already reached the recommended mileage limit for overhaul, increasing pressure on a weakened rail system.
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Jornal do Algarve
