The deputy spokesman of the Popular Group in the Congress, Rafael Hernando, stated this Thursday that the Executive of Pedro Sánchez had been aware for some time of the "security problems for a long time" in the railway network, and held it responsible for "negligence and incompetence".
After the collision of two trains in Urda (Toledo), in which at least 69 people have died, Hernando has recalled that "a few years ago the AVE was the pride of modern and safe transport in the world" and that, at present, "it is a symbol of the catastrophe".
"They knew about the security system problems for a long time and have been playing roulette with the lives of millions of passengers. Criminal irresponsibility", Hernando denounced in a message on 'X', disseminated by Europa Press.
ACCUSES THE GOVERNMENT OF LYING TO BRUSSELS ABOUT THE SECURITY SYSTEM
After the Government pointed to a possible human error as the origin of the railway accident, the PP deputy for Almería criticized that "making people believe that in 2026 the lives of millions of passengers depend on a man not getting distracted, in order to cover for the Government, is an insult". Immediately afterward, he emphasized: "Everything is negligence and incompetence".
Hernando stressed that the new security system "had to be implemented since January, five years after its tendering". According to what he indicated, "it was not, and in May they lied to Brussels, to justify the spending of European funds", alluding to reports that point out that the Executive communicated in May to Brussels the replacement of the LZB system involved in the accident.
Along the same lines, he reiterated that the new security system was tendered five years ago and that it should have been operational since January. Likewise, he recalled that, after the Adamuz accident (Córdoba "they suppressed the committee of experts in accidents". In his view, "the one responsible is not only Puente, but the boss who has encouraged him, promoted him, and laughed at his mockery", in reference to the President of the Government.