A series of recent incidents on Spain’s railways has sparked a strong public reaction and raised questions about the country’s transport safety. For millions of Spaniards who rely on trains every day, any disruptions or accidents are not only a cause for concern but also a direct blow to daily routines. Given that transport infrastructure is vital for economic and social stability, each such event takes on particular significance.
On Wednesday in the Congress of Deputies, Pedro Sánchez delivered a report dedicated to the investigation of recent railway accidents, including the incidents in Adamuz (Córdoba) and Gelida (Barcelona). The Prime Minister stressed that, despite some shortcomings, Spain’s railway system remains one of the most reliable in the world. He urged the public not to give in to panic or spread the idea that the infrastructure is decaying or poses a danger to passengers.
Inspection and oversight
Sánchez paid special attention to the technical condition of the tracks in the Adamuz area, where a recent accident occurred. According to him, all scheduled inspections and maintenance procedures had been fully carried out. He acknowledged that no system can be entirely error-free, but assured that quality standards would be reviewed and strengthened. Authorities plan to implement additional measures to minimize the risk of similar incidents in the future.
The President noted that the swift and coordinated response of various agencies helped prevent a greater number of casualties. The main suspected cause of the accident is believed to be a defect in the weld seam between the new and old rails. Sánchez also responded to criticism that track renovations do not always involve completely replacing every element. He compared this to home renovations: a full reconstruction does not necessarily mean demolition and rebuilding from scratch, but rather replacing only the worn components.
Funding and Investment
Responding to accusations of insufficient funding for railway infrastructure, Sánchez stated that since 2018, investment in the sector has tripled. According to him, spending on the purchase of new trains has increased tenfold compared to the previous period. For comparison, during the years of Mariano Rajoy’s (Mariano Rajoy) administration, investment in railways was nearly half as much.
Sánchez announced that a new agreement was recently signed with representatives of the railway sector, allocating an additional €1.8 billion for track maintenance and creating more than 3,500 new jobs. He stressed that the government will continue to invest in safety and modernization to maintain a high level of trust in the system.
Technical Details
During the address, concrete data was provided on the work carried out in the emergency section. Over the past six months, specialists conducted 114 inspections of welded joints using visual, geometric, and ultrasonic methods. In addition, five dynamic surveys were performed, along with a series of technical inspections of railway turnouts and regular track alignment operations. All detected minor deviations were corrected according to established procedures, and none of them concerned the condition of the railbed.
Sánchez specifically emphasized that the comprehensive modernization of the site, completed in June 2025, met the strictest quality standards and was carried out by leading industry companies. He assured that all safety protocols were strictly observed and any identified issues were resolved immediately.
Public response and consequences
The public outcry following the accidents was significant, especially against the backdrop of recent transport difficulties in other regions of the country. For example, residents in Catalonia had already faced serious disruptions in public transport, with buses unable to handle passenger volume and rail service only partially restored. Details on the impact of the transport crisis in the region were covered in the article about the challenges faced by Catalonia’s residents.
Spanish authorities are currently under intense scrutiny, as their decisions affect not only security but also public trust in state institutions. Questions about sufficient investment, quality of oversight, and transparency of investigations remain at the forefront of public debate. Sánchez has promised that the government will be the first to raise standards and introduce new measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In recent years, Spain has already faced high-profile railway incidents, leading to large-scale inspections and a revision of safety protocols. After the 2013 accident in Galicia, maintenance requirements were tightened and new automatic control systems were introduced. In 2024, rail traffic in Andalusia was temporarily suspended on several sections over suspected rail defects. Each such case sparked public debate and a review of norms, ultimately contributing to higher levels of safety in transport across the country.
