Rail disaster highlights systemic issues

A railway disaster in Spain on October 28, which resulted in at least 68 deaths, has exposed systemic flaws in the management of the national rail network. Reports indicate that the incident could have been far worse, with an additional high-speed train authorized to resume normal speed following a failure in the LBZ control system.

Driver's decision altered the course

According to El Confidencial, this authorization was the final cause of the accident. Normally, trains are allowed to proceed "at sight," meaning at a very low speed (30 to 40 km/h) to anticipate any danger ahead. However, the driver of the Iryo train decided not to follow this order, citing the need to restart the train at reduced speed and to contact the operational center to correct the instruction.

Loss of confidence among rail workers

The incident highlights a loss of confidence among drivers in the regulation. Within Adif, the Spanish railway network manager, there are reports of under-staffed teams, outdated tools, and increased stress among operators. The workload has significantly increased, with operators now managing nearly three times more trains per team than before.

Outdated systems contribute to delays

The obsolescence of the LZB, the safety and signaling tool, is also criticized. This German continuous control system, developed in the 1960s, has equipped the Madrid-Seville corridor since 1992. Despite its age, it is considered "safe but obsolete," with frequent transmission failures.

Investigation into management and contracts

The management of the maintenance of the Seville-Madrid line has raised questions, especially after the Adamuz accident, which cost 46 lives. The European prosecutor's office launched an investigation to find out which companies are involved and how contracts were awarded by Adif. According to La Vanguardia, an investigation into fraud and embezzlement of public funds has been ongoing since February.