Santiago train crash black boxes: driver was on the phone when the accident happened

Black (yellow) box removed
from crash site

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA It's a week today since the tragic train crash that so far killed 79 people. Sixty-six victims are still in hospital, of whom 15 are in a critical state, one of whom is a child. The train's black boxes have been recovered and are being studied, but it has emerged that they reveal that the driver was on the phone to RENFE, who placed the call, when the accident happened. Just prior to this, the train's speed had been 192 k/h, but had been reduced to 153 k/h at the point of impact. Apparently, he received the phone call from the RENFE centre telling him the way to Ferrol, the train's ultimate destination. The sound of paper can be heard on the recording of>>>

Crash engineer out on bail after admitting his responsibility

Engineer escorted from crash

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA The engineer of the train that crashed last week at the entrance to Santiago, which resulted in 79 deaths (so far) and over 100 injured, was released on his own recognizance last night after having made his statement before Judge Luis Aláez, according to sources close to the latter. Francisco José Garzón Amo, 52, admitted he had committed an 'imprudence' and that the accident was due to human error. He apparently decided to make a statement after several days in which he refused to speak, this time with his own lawyer beside him. Although he was released until further appearances are necessary, particularly those emerging from the train's black box, he must report once a week at the court and he has had his passport removed. Court sources say that his statement was 'very emotional' when he was asked why he hadn't stopped the train in time to avoid the disaster that followed. Witnesses and survivors able to do so have been questioned by the National Police, who are now concentrating on them in order to establish exactly what happened, independently from the statement by the engineer.

Santiago crash update: speed limit exceeded

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA Reports on Spain's national TV 24 hour have just announced that there were eleven people of British nationality on board the train, but this is subject to confirmation (NOT CONFIRMED). Above is a CCTV video of the crash.

Latest on Santiago rail accident: speed of 180/k in 80/k zone; one Briton on board; search for victims over

(Photo: EFE)

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA Initial assumptions that the cause of this tragic accident (the second worst in Spanish history) was excessive speed seem to be right. One of the drivers -both of whom have only light injuries- has admitted that the train was travelling at 180 k/hour, in a zone marked at 80 k/h as maximum. The latest count is 78 dead, 145 injured, of which 20 are in critical condition, but updates are expected at midday. Blood donors at hospitals throughout the Santiago area have almost collapsed the system after pleas went out for donors. There is as yet no official list of the dead, as proper identification is a must. Two phone numbers are available for information on the injured: 981 551 100 (Police) and 900 101 660 (Renfe, railway). BBC reports that there was at least one Briton on board the train. Rescue services announced at 13.30 that the search for more victims had concluded.

Train derails in Santiago de Compostela, at least 77 dead, 150 injured

This Reuters/CNN footage is from about 8 hours ago, details are still sketchy but the number of dead has risen to 77, according to Reuters, and is expected to increase as rescue work continues.

Algeciras-Ronda train service cuts

Stop at San Pablo de Buceite
(Photo: buceite.com)

ALGECIRAS / RONDA Improvement, that is, expansion and connections, to the Ronda to Algeciras train line has been on the books for at least fifteen years. Area businesses, and in particular the Algeciras Bay Port Authority, are adamant that connections with the Campo are essential to progress and employment. However, recent developments on the 'rationalization' of infrastructure front has that specific line set for elimination altogether. Blame the crisis. The only alternative on that line, which was originally built by Britain for R&R of the troops stationed in Gibraltar, will be to board the Granada and get off at Ronda. The service that is to be eliminated is the train that leaves Ronda at 7.30am, arriving in Algeciras at 9.15; the return journey leaves Algeciras at 7pm and arrives at Ronda at 8.42. So what is left is the Granada train leaving Algeciras three times a day (at 6.35am, 11.45 and 3.55). It remains to be seen whether any stops on the way are to be eliminated, and when this all comes into effect. One of the area's great joys has always been a train ride to Ronda in the spring, when all the wild flowers are out in their splendour.

Renfe adjusts train schedules

ALGECIRAS (Agencies) Renfe has recently adjusted its timetable for the Algeciras-Ronda-Granada route. The variations are only slight but significant. The Algeciras-Granada train now leaves the station a few minutes earlier, and the return trains, from Granada and Ronda, are now the first to leave in the morning. A summary of the new timetable: Leaving Algeciras at 07.05, 11.45 and 15.55, and from Granada at 06.50, 13.45 and 17.25. (See Renfe timetables in English here)

Railway station loses 30,000 passengers in 2010

ALGECIRAS (Agencies) The railway station, administered by Adif, 'lost' close to 30,000 passengers over last year. What this means is that that number of passengers did not come through the station. The reason is perfectly simple, despite our headline, which we got from EuropaSur: the Algeciras-Ronda line was closed for the first four months of the year, and re-opened on April 23. The actual figures for 2010 are: 160,635 passengers, against 190,591 for the year before. Not surprisingly, numbers took off again as soon at it re-opened, although it took a couple of months to return to year-on-year figures.

Algeciras - Ronda train service reopens

ALGECIRAS

Work on the railway line between Algeciras and Ronda has finished. Trains are now running between Algeciras and the Bobadilla hub and beyond. Although the Ronda-Bobadilla section has yet to be finalised, this will not impact the service. Aside from replacing timber sleepers and electrifying the line (the last one left in Spain to do so), work has also been carried to reinforce prevention of landslides and improve crossings along the line. The first trains to arrive at Algeciras yesterday morning came from Granada, Madrid and Ronda. The alternative bus routes are now cancelled.