Monorail: collision between trains paralyzes 15-Silver Line in the east zone of São Paulo

The 15-Silver Line of the São Paulo Monorail was paralyzed shortly before 7 am this Wednesday, 8, due to a head-on collision between trains between Sapopemba and Jardim Planalto stations, in the east zone of São Paulo.

The accident happened before the beginning of the commercial operation, according to the Metro, during the positioning of the trains.

There were no passengers in the cars.

Around 11 am, the circulation on the line was partially resumed between Vila Prudente and Vila Tolstoi stations.

Two operators were on the trains and had no serious injuries, said Antonio Marcio Barros Silva, Metro Operations Manager, in an interview with TV Globo.

According to Metro, one of them had a dislocated arm and was referred for medical attention.

The Subway Workers Union informed that they are emotionally shaken.

Metro informs that it has started an investigation to define the cause of the collision.

The images show that one of the trains was on the “wrong way” in the downtown direction.

The other, which had left Sapopemba station, was in the right direction.

“Around 4:30 am, out of commercial operation, during the positioning of the trains along the Linha 15-Prata, two compositions collided lightly between Sapopemba and Jardim Planalto stations. Metrô has already started an investigation to find out the reason for this collision,” said the company in a statement.

The operation was interrupted between 4:40 am and 6:50 am between Vila União and Jardim Colonial stations.

From 6:59 am on, the operation was totally interrupted by the Sindicato dos Metroviários (Subway Workers Union) initiative, which was considered insufficient to attend to the operators injured in the collision.

The stations were closed, and the trains were taken to the Pátio Oratório.

Around 11 am, there was partial resumption, according to Metro, between Vila Prudente and Vila Tolstoi.

“The stretch between Vila Tolstoi and Jardim Colonial stations will remain being served exclusively by free buses,” it said.

TRAFFIC CHAOS AND QUEUES OF PASSENGERS ON THE EAST SIDE

The closing of the stations is causing chaos in the region’s traffic.

Vehicle traffic is complicated due to the interdictions on Sapopemba Avenue because of the risk of some parts of the trains falling on the road.

Every day, about 115,000 passengers use the Silver Line-15.

The Support Plan between Companies in an Emergency Situation (Paese) was activated to provide free buses (initially 30 and then 40) for passengers affected by the stoppage.

Users had great difficulty boarding the buses, which were all full.

Around 9 am, the wait was up to an hour, according to reports. Many simply gave up going to work due to the difficulties.

Because of the collision of the trains, users reported queues and a lack of information on social networks.

Videos showed many passengers moving between Sapopemba and Professor Ignácio de Anhaia Mello Avenues.

The Traffic Engineering Company (CET) confirmed the total blocking of Sapopemba Avenue downtown at 7 am.

The detour is possible through Antônio de França e Silva, Cristóvão de Vasconcelos, Forte de Iguatemi, and Avenida Custódio de Sá e Faria.

This is not the first time the line has experienced problems. In January 2019, two trains crashed near the Sapopemba station.

Like this one, the accident occurred outside passenger service hours.

The collision occurred at night, during a maneuver. A Metro report indicated human error. According to SPTrans, 25 bus lines had to deviate.

SEE THE LIST OF BUS LINES AFFECTED

• 3141/10 São Mateus – Term. Pq. D. Pedro II
• 3390/10 São Mateus – Term. Pq. D. Pedro II
• 364A/10 Hosp. Ipiranga – Shop. Aricanduva
• 4029/10 São Mateus – Vl Prudente Term.
• 4033/10 Jd. Guairacá – Nova Conquista
• 425E/10 Sapopemba – Jd. Ester
• 5026/10 Conj. Teotônio Vilela – Jd. São Roberto
• 5110/10 São Mateus Term. – Mercado Term.
• 5110/21 São Mateus –  Mercado Term.
• 5110/24 São Mateus – Vl. Prudente Term.
• 5110/41 São Mateus – Tamanduateí subway station
• 513C/10 Vila Califórnia – São Mateus
• 513C/31 California slum – Itaquera E.T.
• 5141/10 Term. Sapopemba – Pça. do Correio
• 5142/10 Term. Sapopemba – Pq. D. Pedro II Term.
• 5143/10 Term. Sapopemba – Pq. D. Pedro II Term.
• 5144/10 Sapopemba Term – Princ. Isabel Term.
• 519M/10 São Mateus – Ipiranga Museum
• 524M/10 Mascarenhas de Morais – Shop. Aricanduva
• 573H/10 Sapopemba Hospital – Bresser subway station
• 573T/10 Sapopemba Term. – Carrão subway station
• 573T/31 Sapopemba Term. – Carrão subway
• 574C/10 São Mateus – São Caetano subway station
• 574R/10 Sapopemba Term. – Belém subway
• 574W/10 Walkiria – Belém subway station

With information from Estadão