The Government Council of the Regional Government of Andalusia has approved this Tuesday a formal request to the central Executive so that it immediately adopts actions that strengthen rail safety in the High Speed corridor that connects Andalusia with Madrid, following the accident recorded in Urda (Toledo).
In its agreement, the Andalusian Government calls on the State to set up a working table between the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility and the Junta of Andalusia that acts as a "permanent, agile and direct" channel for dialogue and allows the measures that the ministry deploys in this corridor to be jointly supervised.
The regional Executive emphasizes that the impact of this latest incident, together with the accident that occurred nine months ago in Adamuz (Córdoba), affects Andalusia directly and, for that reason, demands a firm commitment from all administrations, each within the scope of its powers.
At the appearance after the Government Council, the Minister of Development and Mobility, Mario Muñoz-Atanet, has explained the details of the agreement and has recalled that, for the past six years, the Junta has been conveying to the then Ministry of Development the urgency of reviewing the Andalusian rail map. He has insisted that it is essential to have a stable coordination channel between the two administrations, which facilitates joint monitoring of the actions and guarantees periodic and updated information.
"We want to know first-hand the progress of the repair work and of the audit requested, the planned deadlines for the restoration of rail service and, above all, the mobility alternatives that will be made available to citizens," he added.
The minister also pointed out that the Junta has "absolutely no information" about the date on which circulation could be restored along the high-speed line between Andalusia and Madrid.
Regarding the content of the agreement, the Government of Spain is urged to, given the seriousness of what has happened, carry out an exhaustive review of the conditions under which rail service is provided, the state of conservation of the infrastructures, and the operation of the security and signaling systems.
"The investigation must clarify all circumstances and determine whether, beyond possible specific causes, there are deficiencies of a structural or systemic nature related to the planning, conservation and maintenance of the railway network", as the Andalusian minister has added.
To reinforce traveler safety to the maximum, increase the reliability of the system and restore citizens' trust in the train, the Regional Government calls on the central Executive to, in parallel with the investigation, carry out a comprehensive, independent technical audit of the infrastructure and its security systems, increase the allocations intended for conservation and maintenance of the railway network, and expand the extraordinary mobility measures that mitigate the effects of the shutdown of rail communications between Andalusia and Madrid.
In relation to network maintenance, the Governing Council refers to the data released by the Railway Infrastructure Administrator (ADIF) and by the National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC). Its latest reports indicate that rail activity, measured in train-kilometers, grew by 56.3% between 2019 and 2025, while spending on repairs and conservation of infrastructure per train-kilometer fell by 29.9%.
Likewise, the maintenance objectives recently put forward by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility are mentioned, which estimates annual spending of 1.800 billion euros for the entire network (High Speed, Medium Distance and commuter rail), 64% higher than the 1.100 billion euros planned in the 2025 Budgets.
These data, as reflected in the agreement of the Governing Council, show the "imbalance between the increase in network usage and the resources allocated to its conservation". For this reason, it is requested to review whether the planning and the resources allocated to maintenance are aligned with operating requirements, as a way to ensure the safety and reliability of rail service.
Added to this scenario is the sharp disruption to train connectivity between Andalusia and Madrid, which is generating "serious economic and social consequences for Andalusia". The minister has pointed out that the closure of this strategic connection requires reinforcing and rethinking transport alternatives, both by air and by road, while normal rail service is not restored.
The Governing Council also emphasizes the repeated warnings about the "progressive deterioration" of the rail service in Andalusia and the requests made by the Board in recent years to open a debate on the situation of the Andalusian rail map. According to the regional Executive, the problem has been worsening with frequent breakdowns, delays and an overall deterioration in service, until it has led to the current rail blackout and to uncertainty about the reliability of the train.
In this period, according to the Board, multiple communications have been sent to the successive competent ministers, including an institutional statement approved by the Governing Council, and the Andalusian Parliament has given the green light to seven non-legislative proposals demanding improvements to rail infrastructure.
In addition, in October 2024 the report "Infraestructuras para Andalucía" was submitted at the only meeting held in eight years with a Minister of Transport, and these demands were reiterated at the only Sector Conference on Transport held in four years, in July 2026, "without any response having been given to the main initiatives put forward," according to the Board.