How to restore confidence in the railway system
The tragic Adamuz accident, with over 40 fatalities and more than 40 missing, has understandably created a sense of uncertainty, both among railway line managers and passengers. Indeed, regarding the causes of the accident, everything is currently speculation. Experts, train drivers, industry workers, and, following them, the politicians in charge are desperately seeking technical explanations for a railway disaster as serious as it is, for the moment, incomprehensible and enigmatic.
Were the various rail breaks the cause of the accident or a consequence? Did the derailment damage the tracks, or did the tracks cause the derailment? Is there a problem with the wheels of the Iryo train or the previous trains that passed through the same section on the same day? The fact that the accident occurred on a straight stretch only adds to the mystery. At this point, then, nothing is clear, there are no obvious anomalies, no plausible leads. Only one thing has been ruled out: hypothetical sabotage.
It is precisely this uncertainty that pervades the investigation that generates even more uncertainty and amplifies the doubts. In this context, therefore, it is more necessary than ever to exercise extreme caution in the face of even the slightest indication that may arise. That is why Adif's decision to limit the speed of the high-speed line between Barcelona and Madrid to 160 km/h on a 150-kilometer stretch, roughly from Mejorada del Campo to Alhama de Aragón, is reasonable—a section where train drivers had detected some potholes. What at another time would have been considered a minor incident now takes on a different significance. Thus, until these potholes are thoroughly inspected, trains will not be able to travel over them at their usual speed. Right now, it makes sense that any doubt, however small, should be subject to rigorous action.
The Railway Accident Investigation Commission (CIAF) has a complex, delicate, and crucial task: to shed light on a catastrophe like this, one that calls into question the entire railway system. Between 2021 and 2025, a total of 700 million euros were invested in the section of track where the accident occurred to remodel it. The trains involved initially met all safety standards and had passed the relevant inspections. But something went wrong. Clarifying the cause will not alleviate the pain of the victims, but it will reassure the public and should prevent something similar from happening again.
Nor will it be easy for the authorities, the companies involved, or Adif: all of them will have to work hard to restore the lost confidence of the users. Besides the utmost caution, maximum transparency will be necessary in the explanations once the missing bogie (wheel) from one of the trains and the black boxes from both trains are located. These items could be key to understanding the actions taken by the train drivers and how the LZB safety system functioned. A detailed review of the entire accident site will also be relevant.
Understanding what happened in the tragic Adamuz accident and restoring confidence in the railway system are two sides of the same coin.
