A technical incident on the Madrid-Seville high-speed rail line has once again disrupted travel plans for hundreds, marking the second such occurrence in as many weeks. The disruption, which began around midday on Sunday, saw nine long-distance and high-speed Renfe trains delayed by more than two hours, with the last train departing 50 minutes behind schedule and arriving over two and a half hours late.
The root of the problem was a train that became immobilized between La Sagra and Mora in Toledo, causing a domino effect of delays across the network. Passengers bound for Seville from Madrid were particularly affected, with the first scheduled arrival in Seville at 14:44 running more than two and a half hours late. The incident led to overcrowding at Santa Justa station in Seville, exacerbated by the timing coinciding with the end of the April Fair, a peak travel period.
Renfe officials cited the incident as a technical fault, dismissing any claims of sabotage. However, the repeated disruptions have sparked criticism from passengers and political figures alike. Toni Martín, spokesperson for the Partido Popular in Andalusia, took to social media to lambast the central government's handling of the situation, attributing the chaos to incompetence rather than malicious intent.
Efforts to normalize the situation were underway by evening, but the incident has reignited concerns over the reliability of Spain's high-speed rail network, especially on the Madrid-Andalusia route. With passengers left frustrated and seeking answers, the spotlight is once again on Renfe's ability to manage and mitigate such disruptions effectively.
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