Renfe president on the possible cause of the train crash in Spain: “It must have been a failure of the rolling stock or the infrastructure”

Álvaro Fernández Heredia, president of Renfe, said this morning on Cadena SER that “this is an accident under unusual circumstances. The worst thing we can do is speculate. We need to allow the independent investigative commission to do its work. We will not have a definitive answer for several days,” he emphasized.

There are many unanswered questions about why the accident occurred and what caused it, especially because it took place on a straight section of track. According to Heredia, “it happened on a straightaway, a stretch of track limited to 250 km/h. One train was traveling at 205 km/h and the other at 210 km/h, so it was not a case of excessive speed. The circumstances are unusual.”

Regarding the track in the Córdoba region, he explained that “it is equipped with an LZB safety system that prevents human error, so it must have been some kind of failure in the rolling stock or the infrastructure.”

The Renfe president also noted that “track components, the platform, and the infrastructure were replaced in May, so it should have been in optimal condition,” adding further context about the possible cause of the accident.

High-speed rail service between Madrid and Andalusia suspended

As for the restoration of high-speed service between Madrid and Andalusia, the official responsible for the infrastructure said it will not resume in the coming days. “The two Renfe railcars are completely destroyed, and the repair work will take time.”

First, because of the investigation, and second, because of logistical challenges. “The trains have to be removed from the site, and access for cranes is very difficult. In addition to the investigation, the infrastructure will need to be rebuilt, including the catenary and signaling systems. This will take several days. High-speed service will remain suspended, and this will last more than four days.”

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