Spanish rail authorities have temporarily reduced the speed limit on part of the high-speed line between Madrid and Barcelona after a fault was detected on the track.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente reported a crack was found on Sunday night in the line 110 km (68 miles) west of Barcelona, between Alcover and l'Espluga de Francolí, in the Catalonia region.
This decision follows a tragic high-speed collision that resulted in the deaths of 45 individuals in southern Spain and comes amid severe disruptions to local rail services in the country's north-east.
The transport ministry clarified that the detected fault does not pose a danger to trains operating on that route, which will continue their service but at a reduced speed.
Currently, the speed limit on the affected section is set at 80 km/h (50 mph) until further notice, in stark contrast to the maximum speeds of 300 km/h when normal operations are in place. Over recent days, various speed reductions were enacted following driver reports of vibrations and other anomalies.
Following a recent incident involving a collapsed wall that resulted in the death of a trainee driver, the local Rodalies rail service has been severely disrupted. On Monday, operations faced additional chaos, leading to temporary service suspensions, all while investigations into the Adamuz crash continue. Findings indicate a critical section of track may have contributed to the derailment, prompting demands for accountability from opposition politicians.
As the government reviews safety measures, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is scheduled to address these concerns in Congress on February 11.
