The derailment of a freight train in Zarzalejo (Madrid) has forced this Sunday, November 15, to suspend rail traffic on a section of the conventional line that connects Madrid with Ávila, causing delays, service changes, and the implementation of an alternative road transport device.
The accident occurred at around 03:48 in the early hours, when a freight train belonging to Captrain left the track as it passed through Zarzalejo. The locomotive driver suffered minor injuries and had to be taken to the Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro de Majadahonda after reporting back pains.
Although the incident directly affected a freight train, its consequences extend to travelers who use this rail corridor. As Renfe reported through its official X account, traffic is suspended between the stations of Zarzalejo and Robledo de Chavela, which prevents the usual passage of trains through that section.
To reduce inconvenience for passengers, the operator has arranged alternative buses between El Escorial and Robledo de Chavela, with an intermediate stop in Zarzalejo. Adif maintains its teams on site to restore the infrastructure, although no definitive reopening time has yet been communicated.
Which trains are affected by the derailment in Zarzalejo
The incident mainly affects the Media Distance and Regional services that run on the Madrid-Ávila line, as well as the trains that use this corridor to connect the capital with other cities in Castilla y León and in the north of the peninsula.
Among the services with incident notices published by Adif for this Sunday are connections between Madrid-Príncipe Pío, Ávila, Valladolid, León, Vitoria-Gasteiz and San Sebastián. The specific impact may vary depending on the train, with delays, route modifications, road transfers, or occasional cancellations.
The information available in Adif’s channels includes notices for services such as the Media Distancia 18060, 33062, 18112, 18064 and 18014, as well as various regional trains. However, that a service appears with a notice does not necessarily mean that it has been canceled: some journeys may be maintained with a road transfer.
At the station of Arévalo (Ávila), for example, Adif has announced the cancellation of train MD 18060 bound for Madrid-Príncipe Pío and the re-siting of its passengers on service MD 18008.
The incident also affects the trains of the C-8A line of Cercanías Madrid, which connects the El Escorial area with Zarzalejo and Robledo de Chavela. The Regional Transport Consortium has confirmed the interruption of rail service along this stretch.
For now, no general suspension of all trains between Madrid and Ávila throughout the day has been announced. The changes are being communicated depending on the circumstances of each service and the alternatives available.
Alternative buses: where they operate and which stations they connect
Renfe has set up an alternative road transport plan to guarantee the mobility of the passengers affected by the rail cut.
The device connects the following stations:
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El Escorial: connection point with the rail services that may operate along the unaffected stretch.
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Zarzalejo: intermediate stop for passengers with origin or destination in this municipality.
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Robledo de Chavela: connection with the services at the other end of the interrupted stretch.
The Regional Transport Consortium of Madrid has confirmed this alternative route for users of the C-8A line of Cercanías, while Renfe also uses it to reorganize the movements of Media Distance travelers.
The buses allow the stretch that cannot be covered by train to be traveled by road, although travel times may increase compared to usual timetables due to transfers and driving conditions.
Passengers must follow the instructions of the rail staff to find out which alternative corresponds to their ticket. A single schedule has not been published that would allow confirmation in general of the departure of all buses, so it is advisable to check the updated instructions before traveling.
What happened in Zarzalejo and how the driver is
The derailment occurred during the early hours on the conventional Madrid-Hendaya line, at the level of the Madrid municipality of Zarzalejo.
According to the first information published by Cadena SER, a movement of earth related to the heavy rains of the last few days could be behind the accident. The information suggests that an embankment may have collapsed when the freight train was passing through the area.
The train was carrying 17 wagons with electric coils and, according to initial information, the derailment would have primarily affected the locomotive.
However, the exact causes of the incident still need to be clarified through the corresponding technical checks, so it cannot be definitively confirmed that the detachment was the origin of the accident.
The train driver has suffered minor injuries. The Emergency Services of the Community of Madrid have reported that he had back pain and was transferred to the Puerta de Hierro hospital to receive medical care, without his condition being serious.
When will rail traffic between Madrid and Ávila be restored?
Adif is working to restore rail traffic between Zarzalejo and Robledo de Chavela, although the reopening will depend on the conditions in which the infrastructure remains after the accident.
Before trains are allowed to pass again, it will be necessary to check the condition of the track and ensure that traffic can operate under safety conditions. Work may also be needed to remove the derailed material and to review the affected rail elements.
For the moment, there is no official reopening time confirmed. The duration of the work will depend on the damage detected and on the actions that must be carried out.
The derailment also occurs at a particularly delicate time for the rail sector, after the recent accidents in Adamuz (Córdoba) and Urda (Toledo). However, there are no indications that would allow linking the causes of those incidents with those of the incident recorded this Sunday in Zarzalejo.
Passengers who plan to travel between Madrid and Ávila, or to use regional connections that pass through this corridor, can check the updated status of services through Renfe, Adif and the Consorcio Regional de Transportes de Madrid.
While rail traffic has not been restored, the buses between El Escorial and Robledo de Chavela, with a stop in Zarzalejo, are the main enabled alternative to maintain mobility in the section affected by the derailment.