Moimenta-Alcafache train crash
| Date | 11 September 1985 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Time | 18:37 WEST (UTC+01:00) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Moimenta de Maceira Dão, Mangualde, Viseu | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 40°33′42″N 7°49′14″W / 40.56167°N 7.82056°WCoordinates: 40°33′42″N 7°49′14″W / 40.56167°N 7.82056°W | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Portugal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rail line | Linha da Beira Alta | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | Caminhos-de-Ferro Portugueses | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type of incident | Collision | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trains | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Passengers | 460 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deaths | 49 (official) 50–150 (unnofficial estimates) |
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Linha da Beira Alta to 
Linha da Beira Alta to The Moimenta-Alcafache train crash (Portuguese pronunciation: [mojˈmẽ.tɐ ˌaɫ.kɐˈfa.ʃɨ]) occurred on September 11, 1985, in Mangualde, Portugal, in the Portuguese Linha da Beira Alta. It killed about 150 people, making it the worst rail disaster in Portuguese history.
The accident happened near the Moimenta-Alcafache station, in Moimenta de Maceira Dão parish, Mangualde municipality. This station is between the Nelas and Mangualde stations, in a single track zone.
The crash involved two passenger trains. One was operating an international service between Oporto and Paris, and was running 18 minutes behind schedule; the other one was on a regional service, heading for Coimbra. The regional train was composed of locomotive 1439, from the CP Class 1400 of Comboios de Portugal, and by 6 or 7 carriages, built by the Sorefame company; the Sud Express (international service) was made up of locomotive CP Class 1960 1961 and about 12 carriages. In total, about 460 passengers were aboard the two trains.
The regional service, which was stopping at all stations, arrived at Mangualde station, where it was supposed to stay until the international train had passed. However, notwithstanding the fact that the international service train had standing orders giving it the right of way, the regional continued on, estimating that the delay in the international's service would be enough for the regional to get to Nelas station, where the crossing could be effected. However, the international service was running with a shorter delay than expected; wrongly considering that the line was open to Mangualde station, it also moved on. After the departure, the Nelas stationmaster phoned Moimenta-Alcafache waystation to warn them about the international service departure, and was then informed of the oncoming regional train. Foreseeing that the trains would collide, he tried to warn the guardman on a level crossing between both stations by holding a banner or placing petards on the line; however, this action was not possible, as the train had already passed.
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