Two train disasters—in Adamuz (Córdoba) and Gelida (Barcelona)—have shaken Spain and cast doubt on the safety of high-speed rail. After the deaths of 45 people in Adamuz and numerous injuries in Gelida, the nation’s attention is focused on the authorities’ response. Amid mounting public pressure, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez made a statement promising complete transparency and emphasized that the government assumes full responsibility for what happened.
Sánchez stated that supporting the victims and their families is a top priority for the state. According to him, Spain must restore trust in the high-speed rail system despite the “irreparable damage” caused by the tragedy. However, many observers point out that the country has heard such promises before, and real change often takes years to materialize.
Accountability and Promises
During a press conference following the European Council meeting in Brussels, Sánchez offered condolences to the victims and their loved ones. He stressed that the state will do everything possible to provide assistance. “From day one, we have acted with full transparency and compassion for the victims,” the Prime Minister said. However, beneath these words lies a far more complex reality: investigations into both accidents are only just beginning, and questions about infrastructure and safety oversight remain unanswered.
Particular attention was drawn to reports that four out of seven specialized track inspection trains have been idle for two years. This fact triggered a wave of criticism toward the railway operator Adif and the Ministry of Transport. Responding to questions about the government’s responsibility, Sánchez did not shy away from the topic: “We take full responsibility, as we should.”
Spanish Railways Under Scrutiny
Despite assurances about safety and pride in the achievements of Spain’s high-speed rail network, the Prime Minister acknowledged that the consequences of the disaster cannot be completely undone. Nevertheless, he expressed confidence that the state will help victims overcome the aftermath of the tragedy. Authorities have pledged maximum transparency and interdepartmental cooperation to prevent such incidents from happening again.
Sánchez separately thanked emergency services and ordinary citizens who stepped in to help within minutes of the accident. According to him, their humanity and professionalism are the best proof of the strength of Spanish society. However, behind the official speeches, a tense debate continues about why the track supervision system proved ineffective and why warning signals were ignored.
Unanswered Questions
The public is demanding not just words, but concrete action. How many more trains like this are sitting idle in the depots? Why weren’t steps taken to return them to service? And who will be held truly accountable for the deaths of dozens of people? So far, there are no clear answers to these questions, and statements about transparency and support seem more like attempts to calm public opinion.
Still, in Spain people are used to hearing big promises after major tragedies. But if this time the government is truly determined to make a change, it will have to act quickly and decisively. Otherwise, public trust in high-speed rail could be lost for a long time.
In our previous report, we covered the sharp conflict between the government and the opposition surrounding the Adamuz accident. PP representatives accused the authorities of hiding information and violating protocols, only increasing public tension. Read more about the details of this scandal in our article Scandal Erupts Over the Adamuz Train Crash.
