The president of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno, has called for a complete review of the high-speed line between Madrid and Andalusia after the train accident in Urda, Toledo. The Andalusian leader has expressed his concern for the safety of the corridor, where this Wednesday a Renfe AVE train hit an Iryo train from behind that was stopped.
"Right now I would not travel on the AVE, at least on the Madrid to Andalusia line, and I say it as I feel it until the entire line is reviewed," Moreno stated in an interview on 'Antena 3'. High-speed circulation between Madrid and Andalusia remains interrupted until further notice due to the accident.
The Andalusian president has conveyed the sadness and helplessness that, he said, are being experienced in the community after two fatal train accidents on the same line in just nine months. The tragedy of Urda, which currently leaves 69 dead, is joined by that of Adamuz, in Córdoba, where 46 people died last January.
Moreno explained that he has received information from railway associations and unions about their concerns regarding maintenance and available resources. In that context, he has asked the Government to check the state of the entire infrastructure. "I, of course, right now do not feel any kind of security, nor any guarantee," he stated.
The judicial and technical investigations remain open to clarify what happened in Urda. In his initial explanations, the Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, pointed to a failure of the security system and described the order for the AVE to resume normal operation as "inexplicable". The minister also defended that the Spanish railway system is reliable and safe, although he acknowledged that failures can occur.
High-speed connection with Andalusia remains cut off
The collision has forced the suspension of high-speed circulation between Madrid and Andalusia until further notice. The interruption affects services on the southern corridor and travelers with destination or origin in different Andalusian cities.
Renfe has announced that it is preparing an alternative transport plan starting this Friday to facilitate travel between Madrid and Andalusia. The company has also established services via conventional routes between Madrid, Ciudad Real, and Puertollano, with a longer travel time. Iryo and Ouigo have also canceled their affected connections with the southern corridor.
The public operator has halted the sale of high-speed tickets for this corridor until December 13. Renfe has specified that this measure does not determine the reopening date of the line, which will depend on the progress of work on the infrastructure.
Among the victims of Urda is the former Minister of Employment and president of the CEOE Foundation, Fátima Báñez, whom Moreno remembered as "a very good friend". The Andalusian president highlighted her commitment to San Juan del Puerto, Huelva, Andalusia, and Spain, and conveyed his condolences to the many families affected by the tragedy.
