Renfe has increased the number of affected trains to 30, with 10,700 passengers either stranded or arriving late at their destination due to cable theft on the Madrid-Seville high-speed line at four different points in Toledo province.
Renfe has updated that at this early hour of the morning, 16 trains and 5,584 passengers are still affected by this incident that began on Sunday afternoon. Additionally, trains departing from Andalusia before 8.00 am will experience significant delays.
The cable cuts and theft are impacting trains connecting the capital to Andalusia. They have occurred in the municipal areas of Los Yébenes (kilometer points 92/850 and 93/600) and Manzaneque (kilometer points 101/400 and 102/200), affecting the signaling facilities of the line and causing service delays.
Furthermore, Renfe’s President, Álvaro Fernández Heredia, has announced that the company will delay the departure of high-speed trains on the Madrid-Seville and Madrid-Toledo lines by one hour on Monday in both directions to facilitate repair work overnight.
Heredia explained that Renfe has canceled the last departures of high-speed trains from Madrid Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes «to facilitate the arrival of accumulated trains» after the cable theft on the Madrid-Seville line that affected over 10,700 passengers on 30 trains that were either stranded, delayed, or unable to depart.
The President of Renfe specified that, in addition to the cable theft issue, an Iryo train «had a snag in the catenary,» necessitating its transfer and removal. «The stranded trains are starting to run,» he announced, noting that this incident was the reason for trains losing power.
Heredia emphasized that the company continues to provide arrival estimates on each train and ensured that stock levels on each train were managed, in addition to arranging for taxis at arrival stations. He also announced that there would be Cercanías trains from Atocha, and the station would remain open.
Finally, Renfe is preparing special trains to transport passengers whose departures have been canceled or delayed, and this information is being communicated via SMS and emails to affected passengers.
Subsequently, the company indicated that affected passengers will be transferred to other services starting at 7.00 am. In the meantime, Renfe has opened the Club Rooms, offering food, drinks, and amenities, and reserved 220 hotel rooms for passengers traveling with minors, seniors, and those with special needs.
Additionally, an alternative road transport plan has been established for the Avant Madrid 22:15 – Puertollano 23:37, Cercanías services will be reinforced and operational overnight, and a special train will depart at 3.30 am bound for Chamartín, Alcalá de Henares, Móstoles, Parla, and Fuenlabrada.
«SERIOUS SABOTAGE ACT»
Earlier, the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, denounced a «serious sabotage act» on the Madrid-Seville high-speed line, involving cable theft at various points. He assured that the Civil Guard is already investigating these very serious incidents.
According to the Minister, there have been four cable thefts in different points within a 10-kilometer radius, affecting the line’s security systems. «The impact on the trains that are yet to circulate will be very serious, with barely two hours to repair it once we finish today,» he stated.
Puente confirmed that the Civil Guard is investigating the incidents and requested anyone with information to collaborate. «These incidents are very serious,» he reiterated.
Regarding the stranded Iryo train, the Minister expressed hope for progress to be made quickly to conclude the operations.
NO DEPARTURES
The infrastructure disruption has caused delays and halts in high-speed, long-distance, and medium-distance train services.
Specifically, the Madrid-Seville and Seville-Madrid trains have experienced significant delays due to their inability to travel at their usual speed. Some trains are currently halted, awaiting resumption of service, while others have been canceled outright without departing from their origin due to the challenges faced.
Trains departing or heading towards Madrid from destinations such as Sevilla, Málaga, Huelva, Cádiz, Puertollano (Ciudad Real), or Murcia have been affected.
MORENO DEMANDS ALTERNATIVES
The President of the Andalusian Regional Government, Juanma Moreno, has urged the Government to provide alternatives for passengers affected by the cable theft on the Madrid-Seville line, emphasizing the need to prioritize resolving this situation during such critical times.
«Very concerned about the situation affecting thousands of Renfe passengers, especially those traveling on the AVE connecting Andalusia with Madrid,» reacted the Andalusian President.
Similarly, the President of the Madrid Regional Government, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, commented on the incidents on the Madrid-Seville high-speed line, which affected 21 trains on Sunday, highlighting that with these «blackouts» and malfunctions, Spain faces «daily calamity, international disgrace, and economic damage.»
On the other hand, the Deputy Secretary of Organization of the PP, Carmen Fúnez, denounced a lack of infrastructure security for which the Ministry of Transport is responsible. «The one who should prevent the problem is now playing the victim,» she criticized the department led by Óscar Puente.
The PP official also lamented that the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, left over 6,300 AVE passengers «without any solution.» «Today, we don’t want to hear about cable theft. We want to be treated with dignity and taken to our destination as soon as possible,» she demanded.
Furthermore, the Vox spokesperson in Congress, Pepa Millán, blamed the Government for the disruptions on the Madrid-Seville high-speed line, emphasizing that «Spain is not functioning.»
«One issue after another, Spain is not working, and the only one to blame is a Government that is everywhere except addressing the real problems of the Spanish people,» wrote the parliamentary spokesperson in a social media post reported by Europa Press.
Pepa Millán also criticized the Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, for «only tweeting and tagging people on social media» instead of solving railway issues. «It would be strange if the railway network worked properly,» she quipped.
FUENTE
