An accident occurred in the Alumbres area, near Cartagena, on the FEVE railway line connecting the city with Los Nietos. The incident has once again raised concerns about safety on Spanish railways. A passenger train traveling on the narrow-gauge route collided with a large piece of construction equipment—a crane that happened to be on the tracks at exactly the wrong moment. Several people were injured as a result, prompting a large-scale emergency response at the scene.
Apparently, the crane was not part of the railway infrastructure and ended up on the tracks for reasons still unknown. After the impact, one of the train carriages was littered with glass shards, but fortunately, there was neither a derailment nor an overturning. Even so, passengers were visibly shaken, with some suffering bruises and cuts. Preliminary reports indicate that serious injuries were avoided, but at least three people required medical attention.
Emergency services
The emergency services received the first report of the incident around noon. Firefighters, paramedics, and police quickly arrived at the scene. Doctors examined everyone who was in the carriage and considered hospitalizing some of the passengers. Most of those affected sustained only minor injuries, though the stress and shock were evident on their faces.
Train service was temporarily suspended near the Los partidarios stop, between Alumbreras and the municipality of La Unión. Specialists have begun investigating how a crane ended up on the tracks and why safety mechanisms failed to prevent such an incident. There are mounting questions regarding the organization of rail traffic in this area.
Dangerous section
Residents of nearby houses have repeatedly raised concerns about safety on this stretch of railway. They say the crossing is not equipped with traffic lights or barriers, and the only way to know a train is approaching is to listen for its sound. Locals call this stretch a real trap for drivers and pedestrians, as visibility is limited and the movement of vehicles and people is a common occurrence.
After today’s incident, there is renewed discussion about the urgent need for action. People are demanding at least basic warning and traffic control systems to prevent similar accidents from happening again. For now, all that remains is to hope this warning sign reaches those responsible for railway safety.
Causes and consequences
The official cause of the accident has not yet been announced. It is only known that the crane was on the tracks when a passenger train was passing by. It’s possible the equipment operator did not notice the approaching train or misjudged the timing. However, the lack of even basic safety measures at the crossing clearly played a part.
Regional authorities have promised a thorough investigation and measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. However, residents of Alumbres and La Unión remain skeptical: such promises are made after every accident, but no real changes are yet visible. The situation on this section of the railway remains tense, and today’s incident has only fueled public discontent.
