CIAF: What is the commission investigating the train accident and how does it work?
The agency has already opened an investigation into the disaster and confirms that a "collision" occurred between the two trains.
Madrid"It's a strange accident," said Transport Minister Óscar Puente on Sunday night about the train tragedy in Córdoba, one of the worst in Spanish history, which has claimed, so far, the lives of 40 peopleNow, in clarifying the causes and shedding some light on what happened in Adamuz, the Railway Accident Investigation Commission (CIAF) will play a key role. This Monday, the CIAF opened its investigation into the catastrophe and, in fact, traveled to the site of the accident on Sunday night. The CIAF is an independent body created in December 2007 and attached to the Ministry of Transport. Its main function is to carry out the "technical investigation" of serious railway accidents that occur on the railway network considered to be of general interest—that is, the network under state control—although it can also participate in the investigation of other railway accidents and incidents if deemed appropriate.
Before the CIAF, the General Directorate of Railways was responsible for this type of study, but changes in the railway sector, as well as the tightening of requirements set by the European Commission regarding railway safety, led to the transformation of the agency.
Who is part of it?
It is composed of a president (currently Iñaki Barrón de Angoiti), five members, and a secretary, although the latter does not have a vote in plenary sessions. By law, they must be experts in different areas of the railway sector: infrastructure, rolling stock, signaling, or operational safety. The teams that carry out the investigations are made up of researchers and the necessary administrative and technical staff for each case.
The agency defends its "functional independence from the authority responsible for [railway] safety and from any railway regulator," as stated on its website. It also emphasizes that while an investigation is underway, neither staff nor members of the board may "request or accept instructions from any public or private entity."
What accidents has it investigated?
This agency was responsible for investigating the worst train accident in recent years: the derailment of an Alvia train to Santiago de Compostela that caused 79 deaths and more than 150 injuries. Among the most recent incidents investigated is also the derailment in October 2024 of a high-speed train in a tunnel connecting Madrid's Atocha and Chamartín stations.
What is known about the Córdoba disaster?
In the report opened on the accident in Córdoba, the CIAF (Railway Accident Investigation Commission) details the time of the collision, the trains and companies involved (Iryo and Renfe), as well as the personal injuries, including fatalities, serious injuries, and minor injuries. The data collected so far are those that have been officially confirmed and are subject to change throughout the process. For now, the Commission is briefly summarizing the events of Sunday night because it has only just begun its investigation. It confirms that the Iryo train derailed at 7:45 p.m. and that the derailed cars "invaded" the track on which the Alvia train was traveling. "A collision occurred between the last two derailed cars of the Iryo and the front of the Alvia train," the report details. It was this front car (two cars) that fell down a 4-meter embankment.
The head of the agency, Iñaki Barrón, has stated that there is no evidence to suggest an accident caused by human error, operational issues, signaling problems, or electrification. "We are trying to gather all possible evidence to understand what happened," Barrón asserted in an interview on the 24-hour news channel this Monday. This evidence—pieces of the train or infrastructure—will be analyzed in a laboratory. The head of the CIAF also said that all eyes are on the "interaction of the train with the infrastructure." "It's very complex," he anticipated.
What do their reports conclude?
The primary objective of this Commission is not to determine guilt or impose sanctions, but rather to analyze the technical, operational, and organizational causes of accidents. In other words, to understand what happened. In addition to its conclusions, it also formulates recommendations on railway safety to prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future. These recommendations are directed to railway companies, infrastructure managers (Adif), and the relevant authorities. The duration of the investigation is unknown, although the CIAF president has expressed confidence that the results will be available "as soon as possible." First, a preliminary report will be prepared detailing, step by step, how the accident occurred. During this process, the various affected parties will also be heard. In fact, the CIAF itself has provided channels, such as an email address, for those involved in the accident to contact them. Afterward, a final technical report will be prepared and reviewed by the CIAF plenary. If approved, the corresponding railway safety recommendations will also be established. This report must be published within a maximum of twelve months from the accident.