Two freight trains derailed in Mendoza and they denounce that they intentionally damaged the tracks

A formation composed of a locomotive and 25 wagons derailed between the Cruz de Piedra and Palmira stations in Mendoza due to “acts of vandalism,” according to the company Tren Argentinos Cargas (TAC). The incident took place today at 4:50 p.m., when the formation of Tren Argentinos Cargas- Línea San Martín was heading with 25 wagons loaded with aggregates from Cruz de Piedra Station to Palmira. The derailment occurred on the East Gate curve, in the vicinity of the Parque Norte neighborhood, leaving both the locomotive and several overturned cars. This is not an isolated incident, as TAC notes that it is the second act of vandalism recorded in the same week. Last Tuesday, a similar situation occurred at the same point of Garita Este, when another formation of the San Martín Cargas composed of 29 wagons loaded with coking coal suffered a derailment. In both cases, the company attributes the derailments to intentional “vandalism” maneuvers. The TAC Track and Works staff, who went to the site, determined that the track infrastructure had been intentionally damaged by missing 13 pairs of fish plates (fixings between rails). The police patrol that patrols the area before the train passed did not notice the damage, as it had been hidden with dirt. Faced with this situation, the company reinforced the custody of the trace and requested support to prevent further acts of vandalism. The corresponding complaint was filed, and the uncertainty surrounding railway safety in Mendoza generated concern among users and authorities.

Original source in Spanish