In brief
On 6 November, the EPPO announced a new investigation targeting ADIF, the Spanish Railway Safety Agency and the Court of Auditors, with support from the Spanish Civil Guard’s Central Operative Unit. The probe comes after a deadly crash near Urda and follows an earlier case linked to a January fatality. The EPPO has said it would not reveal further details at this stage.
On 6 November, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) announced that its Madrid office had opened a second investigation into potential fraud involving European Union funds on Spain’s Madrid‑Seville high‑speed railway line. The investigation focuses on allegations that the money earmarked for maintenance and upgrades was misappropriated.
According to an EPPO statement, investigators are carrying out measures at Spain’s railway infrastructure manager ADIF, the Spanish Railway Safety Agency (AESF) and the Court of Auditors. The operation is supported by the Central Operative Unit (UCO) of the Spanish Civil Guard.
The probe examines the use of EU funds that were allocated to upgrade the high‑speed line’s safety, signalling and communication systems. The line is a key backbone that connects Madrid with Seville, and it has seen several costly safety upgrades funded by European sources.
The new investigation was triggered by a deadly train crash that occurred near Urda, in the province of Toledo, on 28 October. The accident took place on the same high‑speed line and added urgency to the matter for authorities across the European Union.
The EPPO’s decision to open a second probe follows its initial investigation, which began in March 2026 after an earlier accident. In January, a train ran into a wall in a rural area near Adamuz, killing 46 people and raising questions about fund usage for maintenance work in that region.
In announcing the second probe, the EPPO said it had “exceptionally decided to confirm the opening of the investigation given the high level of public interest.” The office also noted that it would not disclose further details at this stage.
The Madrid‑Seville high‑speed line, which opened in the early 2000s, carries thousands of passengers daily and is considered vital for connecting two major Spanish cities. Its operation relies on advanced signalling systems and rigorous safety protocols designed to handle speeds exceeding 300 kilometres per hour.
ADIF, the agency responsible for managing rail infrastructure in Spain, maintains the tracks, bridges, and tunnels that make the high‑speed line possible. The agency’s management contract has involved large sums of EU money earmarked for improvement projects.
AESF is charged with ensuring safety standards on the rail network, testing new equipment, and enforcing regulations to prevent incidents on the line. AESF’s compliance records are now under scrutiny in the investigation.
The Spanish Court of Auditors, which oversees public spending, has been called upon to review the accounting of the funds that flow into the project. Auditors will investigate whether those monies were spent according to the agreed specifications.
The UCO of the Spanish Civil Guard is providing the investigation with operational support. The unit’s involvement underscores the seriousness with which the Spanish authorities are approaching the misuse of public funds.
Although the EPPO has not released detailed evidence, the announcement of the second probe signals a broader effort to ensure that European funds directed to critical infrastructure are used properly. The investigation will likely examine contracts, invoices, and the environmental and technical specifications that governed the upgrades.
