The consequences of the recent railway accident in Adamuz are already extending beyond the transport sector and may affect the interests of thousands of Spaniards. Questions about infrastructure quality, contract transparency, and contractor responsibility are now in the public spotlight. At stake is public trust in the high-speed rail system and passenger safety on one of the country’s most important routes.
At the center of the investigation is the large-scale modernization of the section between Guadalmez and Córdoba, where the incident occurred. Dozens of companies took part in the project, with contract sums totaling hundreds of millions of euros. Investigators are now examining not only technical details, but also the entire chain of contractors to understand where a critical error could have occurred.
Who is responsible for the infrastructure
The state-owned company Adif Alta Velocidad played a key role in the project, managing four thousand kilometers of high-speed rail lines. It was Adif that launched the Madrid-Seville line upgrade in 2021 and is responsible for the condition of the tracks after completion. Currently, Adif employees are gathering all documentation on repairs, including rail inspection and welding reports, to hand over to the accident investigation committee.
A consortium of four of the country’s largest construction firms—Ferrovial, FCC, OHLA, and Azvi—participated in the modernization. Each invested an equal share in the project, which cost over 50 million euros. Their offer stood out for both price and technical specifications, enabling them to win the tender. Once the work was complete, the same consortium secured the maintenance contract for the section. Company representatives state that all client requirements were met strictly according to the prescribed guidelines.
Suppliers and contractors
Virtually all rail materials for Spain’s high-speed lines are supplied by ArcelorMittal, a world leader in metallurgy. Experts estimate the company provides up to 99% of all rails in the country. As part of the investigation, a batch of rails has been seized for laboratory analysis, including the very element that may have caused the accident. Special attention is focused on the joint between the new rail installed in 2023 and the old one dating back to the late 1980s. It was here, according to preliminary data, that a break occurred, leading to the train derailment.
The Galician company Maquisaba, specializing in aluminothermic rail welding, also played an important role in the project. Its specialists completed all 114 welds on the problematic section. Project documents already mention staff responsible for the critical junction of different types of rails. According to Adif, welding technology was strictly followed and the quality of work met all standards.
Technical control and audit
Quality control of welding work was carried out by Ayesa, an engineering company from Seville and one of the country’s largest. Its experts performed visual and ultrasonic tests and used special liquids to detect defects. According to the inspections conducted last summer, no serious violations were found. All joints were deemed suitable for operation.
The investigation also mentions Redalsa, a company partially owned by Adif. Redalsa specializes in electric rail welding, but in this case, its involvement was limited to other sections of the line. After the accident, Redalsa representatives emphasized that they had not performed aluminothermic welds at the problematic kilometer but are ready to cooperate with the investigation.
Operators and consequences
Two railway operators were involved in the incident. The derailed train belonged to Iryo, controlled by the Italian state rail company Ferrovie dello Stato. Iryo has been operating in the Spanish market since 2022 and actively competes with Renfe on key routes. The accident occurred on the Málaga–Madrid line, and the company is now awaiting the results of the investigation to understand how such an incident could happen on a newly renovated section.
This entire story has already sparked a wave of discussions among experts and ordinary citizens alike. Questions about the transparency of tenders, quality of materials, and contractor responsibility remain unresolved. Spanish society is awaiting answers that could impact the future of the country’s entire railway sector.
