Spain is once again embroiled in debate over the independence of the commission responsible for investigating rail accidents. Five of the seven current members of the Comisión de Investigación de Accidentes Ferroviarios (CIAF) have previously built their careers at Renfe or Adif, the two major state companies managing the country’s rail network. Such close ties to industry giants have raised doubts about the commission’s true autonomy, despite official assurances to the contrary.
The government maintains that the commission members’ professionalism and experience are beyond question. However, European authorities have repeatedly expressed concern that investigations could be biased. These concerns intensified after the 2013 Santiago de Compostela tragedy, when an Alvia train derailment claimed 80 lives. At that time, the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) directly pointed to shortcomings in the Spanish commission’s compliance with European independence standards.
Scrutiny over commission’s independence
The commission’s composition is contentious. Its current chair, Ignacio Barrón de Angoiti, is an engineer with an extensive track record at Renfe. Two other members, Adolfo Moreno Díaz and Avelino Castro López, are also connected to Renfe. Vicente Mendoza García de Paredes and Francisco Rincón Arroyo both came from Adif. Only two out of the seven members have no connection to these companies.
Formally, the appointment process appears transparent: each commission member must have an engineering degree and experience in railway safety and operations. The term of office is six years, with no right to reappointment. Candidates are approved by the Congress of Deputies. However, in practice, the commission is entirely dependent on the Ministry of Transport, which not only oversees its work but also funds payments to its members.
European perspective
After the Alvia disaster in 2013, European experts conducted their own assessment of the commission’s work. In 2016, they concluded that the presence of former Renfe and Adif employees on the body contradicts the European directive on investigation independence. Spanish authorities pledged to change the situation and establish a truly independent body to investigate not only rail but also maritime and aviation incidents.
A year and a half has passed since this promise, yet the new structure has still not begun operating. The commission remains under the authority of the Ministry of Transport, now headed by Óscar Puente. Funding, staffing decisions, and even the rules of procedure are still controlled by the ministry. This inevitably raises concerns among the public and experts.
Authorities’ stance
Minister of the Interior Fernando Grande-Marlaska has publicly stated that he sees no reason to doubt the independence and professionalism of the commission. According to him, since 2017 the body has reviewed more than 270 railway incidents across the country. However, these assurances have failed to convince either European observers or a portion of Spanish society.
The question of the investigations’ independence remains unanswered. As long as the commission continues to operate with its current members under the Ministry’s control, its findings are likely to provoke distrust—especially in cases of major disasters like the Santiago de Compostela tragedy, when dozens of lives are at stake.
Delayed reforms
Promises to create an independent administrative body to investigate transport incidents have been made for years. Authorities insist work on the reform is ongoing, but no concrete timeline has been given. Meanwhile, every new accident or railway incident raises the same question: who will investigate the causes of such tragedies, and how?
For now, the situation is as follows: key decisions in investigations are made by individuals with careers closely connected to the major players in the rail industry. This inevitably casts doubt on the objectivity and impartiality of the commission. Spanish society is demanding change, but for now, must settle for promises.
