Sunday's high-speed train crash in southern Spain, the worst in over a decade, has been a devastating tragedy for the country, with the loss of at least 42 lives.
Amid the grief, many are asking what could have caused such a failure on one of Europe's most admired rail systems.
The CIAF rail investigatory commission has started analyzing why a train traveling north from Málaga was derailed on a straight section of the route, causing it to collide with an oncoming train, which was also derailed.
The Spanish government has described the accident as 'extremely strange'. Three bodies already located in the wreckage were recovered on Tuesday afternoon, and a 42nd victim was also found at the crash site near Adamuz.
The shock felt in this sleepy town has been compounded by confusion at how a rail route that ran efficiently for so long suddenly failed.
After its inauguration in 1992, Spain's high-speed rail, or AVE, network was seen as a symbol of the country's modernization. Built with EU funds, it provided a state-of-the-art transport system that was fast, efficient, and safe.
A derailment near Santiago de Compostela in 2013 that killed 80 people was not part of the AVE network, although that train was traveling at high speed. Sunday's collision, however, took place on the oldest AVE route, that which connects Madrid with Andalusia.
Several officials, including the president of Renfe, the national rail operator, Álvaro Fernández Heredia, said that human error was almost certainly not the cause of the accident, given that neither train was traveling at an excessive speed. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska insisted that sabotage was not a possible cause.
Investigation into the train that derailed, owned by Italian firm Iryo and manufactured in 2022, is a central focus. Transport Minister Óscar Puente stated that carriage number six, which was the first to derail, would be closely examined.
Moreover, investigators also aim to analyze the section of track where the derailment occurred, revealing that part of the track was broken, raising speculations about culpability. However, the government has pointed out that the damage could have resulted from the force of the collision.
Past social media posts indicate that passengers had previously reported discomfort and safety concerns while traveling on AVE trains. The drivers' union, Semaf, had also warned about issues on AVE lines that could compromise safety.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez assured that once the investigation determines the cause, it would be shared with the public transparently.
This accident may spark significant changes for Spain's renowned rail system, highlighting the pressing need for infrastructure assessments across the country.
