Two motorcyclists die in collision with Alfa Pendular train in Cartaxo

Two people died, this Thursday afternoon, caught by the Alfa Pendular train, in Cartaxo. The railway line is cut in both directions.

A motorcycle was picked up by the Alfa Pendular train at the Santana level crossing, in Cartaxo. The two people on the motorcycle died at the scene.

An official source from Infraestruturas de Portugal said that when the accident happened “the equipment was working and the level crossing was closed”.

The accident was recorded at 4.58 pm this Thursday, in the South-North direction. According to the Santarém District Operations and Relief Command (CDOS), two hours later the line was still cut, with no reopening forecast. The train, the Alfa Pendular from Faro, in the Algarve, bound for Porto, was full of passengers.

The Santarém Health Delegate is on his way to the site to authorize the removal of the bodies, said a CDOS source. Technicians from Refer, the company responsible for the railway, are already on site, ready to check if there are conditions for the train to circulate again.

The accident mobilized resources from Cartaxo Firefighters, GNR, INEM and PSP, in a total of 15 operators and six vehicles.