Spain was hit by a major transportation crisis after copper cable theft disrupted high-speed rail services, stranding thousands of passengers and triggering political tensions across the country. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Spain was hit by a major transportation crisis after copper cable theft disrupted high-speed rail services, stranding thousands of passengers and triggering political tensions across the country
Travelers were stranded overnight at train stations as well as on board stationary trainsImage: Manu Fernandez/AP Photo/picture alliance

Authorities launched a criminal investigation after vandals removed copper signaling cables from five locations along a 10-kilometer section between Madrid and Andalusia. Transport Minister Óscar Puente condemned the act as sabotage and called for public help.

Don’t miss…Alstom to Modernize Stockholm Metro with Five-Year Digital Deal

He stated that the perpetrators used forest paths between olive groves to access the rail line. The attack occurred shortly after a national blackout had already tested Spain’s public infrastructure resilience.

Spain rail system faces rising threats amid expansion

Adif, the national rail operator, confirmed partial service restoration on routes between Madrid and Andalusia, including Seville, Malaga, and Granada. Full operations were expected to resume by Monday.

However, the chaos had already paralyzed Madrid’s Atocha station, where nine trains were stuck between points. Many passengers had no choice but to remain on board overnight.

The disruption coincided with a long weekend and the lead-up to Seville’s popular Feria festival. Just days earlier, another outage affected hundreds during a blackout in Spain and Portugal.

Spain’s high-speed network has rapidly expanded as part of its decarbonization strategy, linking major cities through fast, sustainable travel. But this latest sabotage highlights growing concerns over system vulnerabilities.

Spain political leaders clash over rail network reliability

The opposition Popular Party (PP) demanded a full audit of the network and compensation for affected travelers. Deputy Juan Bravo accused the government of failing to protect vital services.

PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo criticized the scenes as unacceptable for a top European economy. In response, Spain’s ruling PSOE called his remarks opportunistic and urged unity in condemning the sabotage.

Investigators continue to gather evidence, as Spain’s rail crisis underscores both the country’s transport ambitions and the urgent need to safeguard its infrastructure.

Source: www.dw.com

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed:

Don’t miss…US Approves $3.8M Loan for SCMB Railway Project Study

Find the latest news of the railway industry in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and the rest of the world on our page on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, read Railway Supply magazine online.

Place your ads on webportal and in Railway Supply magazine. Detailed information is in Railway Supply media kit