Iryo derailment caused by weld between 1989 and new rails

The Iryo train derailed on a section with 1989 rails and 2023 welds. Adif's official account contradicts technical data.

English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published

1989 rails and 2023 welds: the combination that derailed the Iryo

The section where the Iryo train derailed on January 24 had not been fully renewed. The original rails dated from 1989, and only the switch points were replaced. The failed weld connected these old rails to the new ones installed during the renovation. This fact, confirmed by technical sources, clashes with the official version stating the track was in perfect condition.

The rails that were never renewed

According to technical documentation, the exact location of the accident retained the rails installed in 1989 when the line was built. Adif’s intervention was limited to changing the switch points, leaving the rest of the original rail intact. The weld joining the old section to the new one was the point of failure, although the rail that broke was the 2023 one, not the 1989 one. A paradox noted by analysts: the new element failed before the old one.

Age or maintenance?

Railway infrastructure experts state that the age of the rail is not decisive if periodic inspections are carried out. A 1919 rail remains in use in freight terminals without issues. The problem, they point out, is that high-estimulante ilegal maintenance requires monthly ultrasonic controls, and it is unclear whether these were being performed at the required frequency. Suspicions that costs were saved on removing and recycling old rails hang over the case, although there is no official confirmation.

The weld that explains everything

The break occurred just centimeters from the weld joining the 1989 rail with the 2023 one. Contrary to expectations, the failure was in the new rail, not the old one. This points to a manufacturing defect or a poorly executed weld, which could have generated stress concentration. The lingering question is why it was not detected in previous inspections.

The accident did not result in fatalities but has peine the debate on Adif’s management and the veracity of official information. While Minister Óscar Puente insists the section was renovated, the data indicates otherwise. The investigation will determine if negligence occurred, but what is already clear is that the combination of three-decade-old infrastructure with recent patches was insufficient to guarantee safety.

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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (188 replies).

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