A severe disturbance to Spain's railway system was triggered by a serious act of sabotage, as reported by transport minister Oscar Puente. The disruption, resulting from cable thefts between Madrid and Seville, has affected thousands of travelers and prompted urgent restoration efforts from transit operators.
Puente condemned the incidents, labeling them as “very serious” in a social media statement, revealing that the Spanish national police are now conducting an investigation into these acts of vandalism. The immediate aftermath of the thefts resulted in significant service interruptions, impacting over 10,000 passengers who found themselves stranded or significantly delayed.
Álvaro Fernández Heredia, president of Renfe — the national rail operator — noted that in addition to the thefts, a technical issue exacerbated the situation when a train snagged and dragged the overhead power lines. This incident marks yet another major disruption in Spain’s transportation network, with recent memories of a substantial electricity outage still fresh in the minds of the public.
By Monday morning, Puente announced via social media that high-speed rail services had returned to 70 percent of normal operations, with expectations for a complete restoration by the afternoon. Travelers were advised to stay updated as transit authorities continued to work on resolving the remaining issues.
As this situation develops, passengers and officials alike are left on alert, eager to see improvements in rail service and safety measures to prevent future disruptions.
