The beleaguered Algarve railway line – often labelled “an embarrassment” – is ready for disaster. In the first simulation of its kind, 13 different entities, including the GNR, INEM, Red Cross and six fire brigades, took part in a staged derailment at Tunes station, near Silves, at the weekend – and the results were “very positive”.
“We’re better prepared to respond to a real situation,” Vaz Pinto, director of operations in the exercise ‘Tunes 2013’ told Lusa news agency.
The scenario was certainly grim – and one that would banish concerns voiced recently over the state of the line’s public conveniences: 35 victims – three dead and 11 seriously injured.
A total of 154 rescue workers were put through their paces, and the day’s work will now go towards formulating the line’s advance intervention plan (Plano Prévio de Intervenção – PPI) for 2014 – a system, explained Vaz Pinto, that will “always stay open” and be revised every two years.
According to Lusa, the simulation was planned and conducted by Faro’s CDOS (district command for rescue operations), in collaboration with rail network REFER, Comboios de Portugal and CP Carga.
