Spanish Railway Tragedy: The Deadly Price of Corruption and Incompetence

ast Sunday, January 18th, Spain suffered the deadliest high-speed train accident in its history, with at least 40 fatalities and over 100 injuries. The accident occurred in Adamuz, Córdoba, when an Iryo high-speed train traveling between Málaga and Madrid derailed, some of its carriages crossing onto the opposite track. Twenty seconds later, it was struck by a Renfe Alvia train traveling in the opposite direction. While the investigation is ongoing, attention has focused on a gap of more than 30 centimeters in the track that triggered the initial derailment.

In his first public statement, Transport Minister Óscar Puente claimed the infrastructure was in “perfect condition,” having been repaired in works completed last May, and described the accident as “very strange.” Hours later, however, emerging details suggested the incident was not so mysterious after all.

The largest train drivers’ union had long warned of the poor state of the Madrid-Seville corridor, which includes the accident site, urging authorities to limit speeds to 250 kilometers per hour due to track deterioration that caused bouncing and vibrations, frightening passengers and posing a safety risk. Meanwhile, a Popes80 investigation revealed that between May and last Sunday, major social media platforms hosted more than fifty videos, incident reports, and public complaints describing tremors, strange noises, sudden braking, and breakdowns on this high-speed line.

Many Spaniards are now asking why a track renovated just eight months ago generated so many complaints about its condition. While no definitive answer exists, initial findings are alarming: among the companies responsible for the May works is one implicated in one of the major corruption scandals of Pedro Sánchez’s government, currently under police investigation. Known as the ‘Koldo Case,’ it involves Koldo García, former advisor to José Luis Ábalos, Sánchez’s then Minister of Transport—both now in prison. A Civil Guard report includes audio recordings linking Koldo to the construction company at the time of the accident, during maneuvers to influence public works contracts.