The Minister of Transportation, Óscar Puente, He described “sabotage” the 150 meter copper cable subtraction in five points in the province of Toledobordering Madrid, according to the first investigations, which It affected the signaling and 30 trains.
The minister denounced that the stolen is of little value (about a thousand euros) compared to the great damage caused, and that it was a coordinated and intentional action in a fenced area, but without security cameras.
In the X network, he said later that the theft was “in access areas through forest tracks between Olivos.”
In turn, the state company Renfe explained that the theft was detected on Sunday, although the circulation of trains with “speed limitation” was possible, with a scheduled delays of 60 minutes.
In a “survey” and much later, A train from the company Iryo was hooked and dragged the catenary (the railway electricity line) also in the province of Toledowhat stopped the circulation of those who were underway.
And all this on the return of four consecutive holidays in Madrid and the beginning of the famous Seville Fair (Andalusia), which generate a high demand for rail transport.
Spain is a European high -speed railway, with about 4 thousand kilometers, and only behind China worldwide.
Renfe is the main company of this service, in which the French Ouigo and the Hispanoitalian Iryo also compete.
Reinforced services
According to sources from the Railway Infrastructure Manager (ADIF), they already circulate trains in both directions, both those previously scheduled and others of reinforcement to serve travelers affected by the suspensions.
70 % of the service is already standardized, the Minister of Transportation reported on Network X, and hopes that it will be completed next hours.
ADIF has also increased all personnel from the South Corridor stations to respond to travelers and manage traffic resumption.
The Spanish rail service has suffered repeated incidents for several years, such as the theft of copper cable and delays of the nearby trains, those that unite the large capitals and the nearby towns.
Copper and conductive materials has almost doubled in the last four years, from 2,365 robberies known in 2021 to 4,433 in 2024, according to data from the Ministry of Interior. EFE