The victims of Adamuz ask Cuerpo for a State pact for railway safety and the minister commits to creating an office to assist them

The victims of the Adamuz train accident asked this Friday the first vice-president and new head of Transport, Carlos Cuerpo, to promote a state pact to improve train safety and care for those affected. The request comes after a second tragedy on the high-speed line between Madrid and Seville, the Urda collision, in which 69 people died just ten days ago.

Cuerpo has met with representatives of the Adamuz Derailment Victims Association (AVDA), who handed him a document with eleven demands that they had already conveyed to the then minister Óscar Puente in March. Among the commitments made at the meeting is the creation of a support office that can act as an advocate for victims of railway accidents.

Sources from the vice-presidency have confirmed to RTVE that the new figure is pending definition and will be agreed upon with the associations. According to AVDA president, Mario Samper, Cuerpo has also committed to reviewing the eleven requests and working on changes to the insurance protocols that assist those affected.

The association has also proposed that guidelines for respectful coverage of tragedies be conveyed to the media and that the situation of affected families be addressed. According to Samper, Cuerpo will convey to Pedro Sánchez the group's request to hold a meeting with the President of the Government.

Samper has found the new head of Transport "more receptive" than Puente, although he recalled that their demands have been pending for months. The victims' representative has been cautious and insisted that it will be necessary to see over time whether the commitments translate into progress.

A pact to avoid new tragedies

The association registered its proposal for a State Pact for Railway Safety, Victim Assistance, and Justice in Congress on Thursday. It has also sent it to the party leaderships and given them until Wednesday, November 11, at 2:00 p.m. to adhere.

The group wants political forces to place three issues among the priorities of the first hundred days of the next legislature. In railway safety, it demands investment, prevention, track maintenance, and independent technical supervision.

The second axis focuses on victim assistance, with continuous medical, psychological, social, and legal support. The third calls for more resources for judicial investigations, access to information for those affected, and specialized courts for major accidents.

Samper explained that the association is already in contact with different parties and has asked them to reach an agreement without using tragedies during the election campaign. The group plans to report on November 11 which parties have signed the commitment.

Concern over the state of the tracks

In the meeting with Cuerpo, the victims also expressed their concern about the investigation into the condition of the rail before the Adamuz accident, which occurred on January 18 and in which 46 people died. Samper assured that the known information about the possible fracture of the track before the accident "terrifies" them.

The technical investigation had already warned in July that data from a maintenance assistance system indicated that the break could have been present in some form for 22 hours prior. That system did not function as an alarm. The investigative commission asked Adif to reinforce measures to prevent and detect rail fractures, while the final report was being prepared.

The meeting took place after Cuerpo assumed the powers of Transport following Óscar Puente's resignation. This Friday also marked the beginning of the period for the victims of the Urda accident and their families to apply for the aid approved by the Government.

Applications can be submitted until February 5, 2027, both in person and through the electronic headquarters of Transportes. The decree includes direct aid that will not have to be repaid and advances on the compensation that may correspond for civil liability. Government delegations and sub-delegations offer assistance to carry out the procedures.