On September 11, 1985, the Beira Alta Line became the scene of Portugal's most severe railway accident. Near Moimenta-Alcafache, two trains collided head-on, causing a large fire and an uncertain number of victims to this day.
The collision occurred around 6:37 PM between the Sud-Express, bound for Paris, and a regional train to Coimbra. The crash on a single-track line, where safety relied on communication between stations, was worsened by the lack of direct communication with trains in transit.
The accident, attributed to human error concerning train circulation and priority, exposed the weaknesses of the railway system at the time. The exact death toll was never clarified due to the fire and identification difficulties, with estimates ranging from dozens to over a hundred.
