Train services on Cercanías Madrid’s C-8b line have been suspended between Los Molinos and Cercedilla on line 110 (Segovia–Villalba) since 07:52 this Thursday, following the derailment of a wheelset on the second vehicle of a train that had departed Chamartín at 06:44. The incident occurred at the entry turnout to Cercedilla, according to Adif and Renfe sources.
The train, a two-unit formation of class 446 EMUs, came to a stand at that location, and passengers had to walk to Cercedilla station. Because of the low speed, there were no injuries; only material damage was reported.
While the train is being removed and the infrastructure repaired, C-8b trains are terminating at Los Molinos station. Renfe has introduced a special bus service between that station and Cercedilla in both directions to maintain passenger mobility.
Terminology difference
Renfe refers to the incident as an axle having run off the track and avoids using the term “derailment”, whereas Cercedilla town council has described it as such on its official channels. However, under the Regulation on Safety of Train Operations on the General Interest Railway Network, the incident can indeed be considered a derailment, as this is defined as any situation in which at least one wheel of a train leaves the rails.
The incident comes days after Adif carried out improvement works between Villalba de Guadarrama and Cercedilla, which had already suspended rail services over the previous weekend.