In brief
The Spanish transport ministry has slashed the speed limit to 80 km/h on a high-speed rail line between Madrid and Barcelona after a crack was discovered on the track. The decision, taken after a recent tragic collision that claimed 45 lives, aims to ensure safety despite reassurances that trains can continue to operate. This is part of a broader push for enhanced rail safety measures following multiple incidents and ongoing investigations into the recent rail disasters.
Spanish rail authorities have temporarily reduced the speed limit on part of the high-speed line between Madrid and Barcelona after a fault was detected on the track.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente stated that a crack had been found on Sunday night in the line located 110km (68 miles) west of Barcelona, specifically between Alcover and l'Espluga de Francolí, in the Catalonia region.
This decision follows a catastrophic high-speed collision that resulted in the deaths of 45 passengers in southern Spain, coupled with severe disruptions to local rail services in the northeast.
The transport ministry has assured that the discovered fault does not pose a danger to trains still operating on the line, though it has implemented a new speed limit of 80 km/h (50 mph) until further notice. Normal operations had previously allowed trains to travel at speeds of 300 km/h.
Just last week, speed limits were reduced on various sections of the Madrid-Barcelona route following driver reports of vibrations and other anomalies, before being reinstated after thorough technical checks.
In conjunction with these changes, the Rodalies rail service in Catalonia has faced multiple disruptions. A recent tragic incident involved a trainee driver’s death when a train struck a collapsed wall, prompting service suspensions as staff demanded improved safety measures.
These safety reductions and service interruptions come in the wake of investigations into the recent Adamuz crash that highlighted long-standing concerns regarding rail infrastructure, including a troubling failure of segmented track joining.
