A Sarmiento line train derailed on Friday near Liniers station, injuring 19 passengers. Nine people were hospitalized with minor polytrauma, and the service disruption led to tensions and damage at Once station. The causes of the incident are under investigation.
The accident happened at 15:50, when the train traveling from Moreno to Once derailed meters from Liniers station in the Buenos Aires neighborhood. According to Trenes Argentinos sources, the formation 'derailed' on a track switch and braked in time per the safety protocol. Service was disrupted temporarily, limited between Castelar and Moreno until 17:50, and then restored without stopping at Liniers.
SAME attended to 19 people: ten on site and nine transferred to Álvarez, Grierson, Santojanni, and Vélez Sarsfield hospitals. Among the hospitalized are two women, five adult men, and two minors under 17, all with non-serious polytrauma, said Alberto Crescenti, head of SAME. The train had low occupancy, as a witness told LN+: “It was quite empty. We heard a loud noise, like fireworks, and we got very scared”.
The rescue operation involved Trenes Argentinos, City Firefighters, SAME, the Special Rescue Group, and brigadists. Power was cut on the tracks to facilitate safe evacuation. Meanwhile, at the Once terminal station, the disruption caused anger among waiting passengers, with moments of tension, blows, and damage to signs and information screens.
This incident occurs under the Railway Emergency Law in effect since May 2024, following the Palermo accident that injured 90 people. The law allows more flexible fund management to address issues like cable theft and deficient infrastructure, aiming to renew cars and improve the overall rail system.