Sud Express - Accidents

Accidents

On 11 September 1985, a Sud Express train was expelled from Nelas station before asking for permission, since he thought that Coimbra traffic manager had informed all stations about the priority of the 30 minute delayed Sud Express, when asked for permission, the traffic manager was informed by Moimenta Dão-Alcafache that a train was just expelled from there, since Mangualde station had expelled the train before with permission of Nelas, but Mangualde was not informed that the delayed Sud Express had priority over other services, so the factor at Moimenta Dão-Alcafache expelled the train, the train was a Regional (Guarda-Coimbra).
After noticing the mistake, Nelas manager contacted a level crossing guard in order to stop the trains, but it was too late, some minutes after, the two trains collided frontally near Moimenta Dão-Alacafache station, at one of the few points of Beira Alta line that in those times allowed speeds in the order of 100 km/h..
The locomotives exploded and immediately the carriages caught fire, the Sud Express transported about 400 passengers, the Regional train had some 40 passengers, but only 47 deaths were officially confirmed, most caused by the fire blaze that consumed most of the carriages.
The locomotives that hauled the trains were, respectively, 1961 (CP Class 1960) and 1439 (CP Class 1400), for Sud Express and Regional train.
A memorial monument was erected on site.