The CP – Comboios de Portugal expressed gratitude on Thursday to the professionals, entities, and passengers involved in the rescue operation following the accident on the Beira Baixa line in the Fundão area.
“CP – Comboios de Portugal publicly expresses its deepest gratitude to all professionals and entities involved in the rescue operation of the accident that occurred yesterday in Alpedrinha, Fundão municipality,” read a note published on CP’s social media, highlighting the “prompt and effective action of the security forces, rescue means, and medical assistance.”
According to the company, this rapid response “was absolutely crucial in supporting our passengers, ensuring dignified, safe, and efficient assistance in adverse circumstances.”
“We also recognize the effort and dedication of the CP maintenance teams, who worked tirelessly on the ground and, with great competence, managed to remove the train from the track. We extend our gratitude to the teams from Infraestruturas de Portugal, who are working to restore rail traffic as quickly as possible,” it continued.
CP also dedicated “a very special word to the crew of the accident-stricken train, for the exemplary way they guided and cared for the passengers, demonstrating professionalism, empathy, and calmness at a particularly demanding time.”
“And we must also thank the passengers themselves for their cooperation and civic attitude throughout the evacuation and assistance process,” the note concluded.
It should be noted that the Beira Baixa line in Fundão remains closed for repair work on the track after Wednesday’s collision between an Intercidades train and a truck.
At least four people sustained minor injuries, and six were assisted after the Intercidades train collided with a truck at the Alpedrinha level crossing in the Fundão municipality, in the Castelo Branco district.
The accident occurred at 8:00 PM on Wednesday, leading to the closure of the Beira Baixa line.
The Intercidades, which departed from Guarda bound for Lisbon, was carrying 118 passengers, stated CP — Comboios de Portugal in a communication.
According to CP, the train collided with a heavy vehicle at the Alpedrinha level crossing, and after the impact, the vehicle caught fire, with the blaze spreading to one of the carriages.
A source from the Sub-regional Command of the Beiras and Serra da Estrela emphasized, by 10:00 PM, that the fire was already under control.
By 10:00 PM, there were 177 operatives on-site, supported by 61 vehicles, according to the website of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority.
