A Sunday evening turned into an ordeal for passengers on the Alvia train traveling from Madrid to Huelva. After a long day spent taking the corrections service exam, three friends—Lola Beltrán, Rocío Flores, and Elena Fragio—boarded the train, sitting in different carriages. Lola decided to move closer to Rocío, leaving Elena in the first carriage. None of them could have suspected that within minutes, their routine journey would become a nightmare.
A sudden jolt shatters the calm in the carriage. The train comes to an abrupt halt, the lights go out, and before passengers can react, they find themselves thrown to the floor. In the darkness, there are screams—some call for help, others try to figure out what happened. People grope for their phones, switching on flashlights to look around. Some seats are dislodged, belongings lie scattered, and fear and confusion fill the air.
The first minutes
Lola finds Rocío, who is crying on the floor, and helps her up. Around them, panicked passengers smash windows with emergency hammers to escape. Attempts to call family members fail—the network is overloaded. Only Lola’s brother, José María, manages to reach emergency services and report what happened. It becomes clear: there are injured, and the situation is serious.
The conductor announces that the train is in the Adamuz area and confirms there are injured passengers. Rocío took a heavy blow to the head but is able to move. Passengers form small groups to support each other as they leave the carriage. It’s cold outside, and the metal barrier along the tracks is damaged. In the distance, a bluish light is visible — it’s another train, Iryo, which has also derailed.
Encounter on the Tracks
Lola decides to return to the carriage to look for Elena, but injured passengers and chaos block the way. She goes back to Rocío, and together they head outside. One of the passengers, José María, walks toward the light and meets members of the Civil Guard, who are still unaware of the scale of the disaster. Rescuers advise those able to walk to move toward the light — where medics are already providing assistance.
The scene unfolding before the passengers is shocking: the driver’s cab of the Iryo train is overturned, and doctors and rescue workers are rushing to help the injured. People from both trains meet on the tracks, exchanging silent glances, unable to process what has happened. In that moment, time seems to stand still — no one says a word, only eyes full of horror and disbelief.
Aftermath and Relief Efforts
While some passengers try to reach their loved ones by phone, others receive messages from colleagues and friends worried about their fate. Lola and Rocío board a bus that takes them to a field hospital in Adamuz. There, a medic examines Lola, performs a neurological check, and documents her injuries. Despite the shock, the girls stick together, supporting each other.
A few days later, Lola returns home to Huelva, but the aftermath of the accident is felt: headaches, nausea, and neck problems. Doctors diagnose her with a cervical spine injury. Meanwhile, the ‘Future Employees’ chat remains active: Elena is still in a Córdoba hospital, but joins video calls to support her friends.
Emotions and memory
That evening will forever remain in the memories of passengers from both trains. Chaos, fear, mutual help, and silent solidarity on the tracks—all became part of their personal stories. Questions about the causes of the accident and rail safety have come to the forefront again. But the most important thing is the people who, despite shock and pain, did not remain indifferent to one another.
