The rock slide occurred on the R1 line, between the stations of Tordera and Maçanet-Massanes. Despite the severity of the situation, an unexpected technical incident allowed the train driver to stop the convoy just in time, avoiding a collision or derailment.
As reported by RAC1, the saving incident was an anomaly in the train's safety system. The alert system erroneously indicated that a nearby level crossing was open, a situation that mandates drivers to circulate at a much lower speed than usual.
Under normal conditions, the train would have been traveling at about 100 km/h on that stretch, which could have caused a serious impact and even a derailment.
The accidental speed reduction allowed the driver to detect the large rocks and fallen trees on the track and brake with sufficient margin. This episode adds to an especially complicated week for the Rodalies service, marked by several serious incidents on the Catalan railway network.
