A new scandal is unfolding in Spain over the Adamuz railway disaster that claimed 45 lives. Railway unions have accused Transport Minister Óscar Puente of completely ignoring multiple warnings about critical failures in infrastructure and safety systems. In the months preceding the tragedy, union representatives repeatedly sought—but failed—to secure a meeting with the minister to discuss the alarming situation on the high-speed train line.
In September, the railway union CGT sent an official letter to the minister demanding urgent attention to issues of maintenance and accident prevention. However, there was no response. Despite billions invested in developing high-speed routes, industry workers claim that signaling and telecommunication systems remain outdated, and ongoing maintenance is virtually nonexistent. According to them, this negligence became one of the causes of the tragedy.
Critical Failures
In a letter sent on September 26, CGT detailed serious issues: lack of preventive maintenance, worn-out equipment, failures in signaling and IT systems. Railway workers argue that all these factors directly threatened passenger safety and train reliability. Meanwhile, unions note that state company Adif received massive budget allocations in recent years, but most of the funds went to new projects rather than maintaining existing infrastructure.
Trade unions are sharply critical of the policy of liberalization and the widespread outsourcing of jobs. In their view, this has resulted in key maintenance and repair tasks being handed over to outside contractors, leading to reduced quality control. According to the accident investigation commission, there were 81 incidents on the country’s railways in 2024, including 20 derailments and 21 level crossing accidents.
Warning signals
During the summer, train drivers repeatedly reported serious issues on the Madrid–Seville route. On a recently renovated section, so-called ‘snags’ in the overhead network continued to cause service disruptions. Restaurant car staff complained of injuries resulting from strong vibrations caused by technical faults. Adif acknowledged two major accidents in the La Sagra area: one related to a voltage drop in the overhead network, and another due to a failure in the LZB system, both resulting in train delays.
In August, the Semaf union sent a letter to the state railway safety agency, warning of track degradation caused by rolling stock wear. Rail workers insisted on reducing the maximum speed to 250 km/h to prevent new accidents. According to them, the increase in the number of trains and the heavier load on the tracks have only worsened the situation.
Minister’s response
The minister Puente’s disregard for these warning signs has sparked outrage among industry workers. In response to the authorities’ inaction, train drivers announced a general strike to be held on February 9, 10, and 11. In a recent interview, the minister stated that all appeals are being considered, but in his view, most complaints concern passenger comfort rather than safety. This statement has only heightened dissatisfaction within the railway sector.
The situation surrounding Spain’s railways continues to escalate. Unions are demanding immediate changes and personal accountability from the minister, while the public anxiously follows the developments. More protests lie ahead, and perhaps unexpected twists in this unfolding story.
