Train drivers in Spain are set to begin a three-day nationwide strike on Monday, protesting what they describe as inadequate safety guarantees across the country’s rail network. The industrial action follows two deadly train accidents in January that have raised serious concerns about the condition and management of Spain’s rail infrastructure.
The first crash occurred on 18 January in Adamuz, in southern Spain, when a high-speed train derailed and collided with another travelling in the opposite direction, killing 46 people. The incident marked Spain’s worst rail disaster in more than a decade. Just two days later, a second accident near Barcelona claimed the life of a trainee driver and left at least 37 passengers injured after a local train derailed.
The January crashes caused widespread disruption for travellers and cast a shadow over Spain’s once-praised rail system. In the aftermath, safety inspections uncovered faults and maintenance problems on several routes, further fuelling concerns among rail workers.
The train drivers’ union, Semaf, said the strike is intended to force authorities to address what it called the “constant deterioration of the rail network.” The union is demanding the recruitment of additional staff, as well as increased investment and maintenance to improve safety standards.
A preliminary investigation into the Adamuz crash by Spain’s rail accident investigation commission, CIAF, found grooves on the wheels of the derailed train and three earlier trains, suggesting a fracture in the track occurred before the train passed over it. The findings have intensified scrutiny of infrastructure integrity along major routes.
In the Catalonia accident, rail officials believe a wall collapsed as the train was passing, striking the driver’s cab before derailing the train and severely damaging the first carriage, where most of the injured passengers were seated.
Semaf has described the two collisions as a “turning point,” insisting that urgent and comprehensive measures must be taken to guarantee the safety of railway operations nationwide.
The crisis has also spilled into the political arena. Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, is expected to face tough questioning in parliament later this week over the failures in the rail system and the government’s response to the accidents.
Investment levels in the rail network have come under particular scrutiny. The Socialist-led government has rejected claims of underfunding, noting that €700m has been invested in upgrading the Madrid-Andalusia line in recent years, including the section where the Adamuz crash occurred.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente dismissed suggestions that the accidents were caused by poor upkeep or outdated infrastructure. “We’re not looking at a problem of lack of maintenance, we’re not looking at a problem of obsolete infrastructure, and we’re not looking at a problem of lack of investment,” he said.
Despite these assurances, the planned strike signals growing tension between rail workers and the government, as questions over safety, accountability and the future of Spain’s rail network continue to mount.
Melissa Enoch
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