A "serious act of sabotage" has thrown Spain's high-speed rail services into disarray, impacting countless passengers over the weekend, transport authorities confirmed. The transport minister, Oscar Puente, stated that the disruptions were initiated by thefts of cable components along the critical route between Madrid and Seville.
In a post on social media, Puente remarked, “These incidents are very serious,” while highlighting that the national police are actively investigating the matter. Thousands of travelers faced significant delays as rail operators scrambled to restore regular service.
Álvaro Fernández Heredia, president of Renfe, the national rail operator, indicated that the disruptions affected over 10,000 passengers. He elaborated that cable thefts were compounded by a technical incident, where a train snagged the overhead power lines, exacerbating the situation.
This disruption follows closely on the heels of a mysterious electrical outage that occurred the previous week, which has left the nation still recovering. By Monday morning, Puente announced that approximately 70% of high-speed rail services had been resumed, with expectations of a return to full operation by the afternoon.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
