Trains and political irresponsibility

MadridThe Adamuz train accident will necessitate a considerable review of the track conditions to ensure, as far as possible, the safety of the high-speed rail network. This network comprises 3,000 kilometers, used by more than 40 million passengers last year. The same must be done with the commuter rail network, bearing in mind in both cases the need to restore services to full normality as soon as possible and with the necessary guarantees. It is a matter of responsibility. On the one hand, the smooth operation of transportation—including high-speed rail—is a necessity, not a luxury, and on the other, risks must be minimized. Besides establishing the causes of accidents—which in the case of Gelida are especially clearer than in the one from AdamuzWhat must be guaranteed is that proper maintenance of the network is carried out.

I greatly fear that not all the necessary effort has been made in this regard, given the complaints and reports from train drivers. Furthermore, the Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, chose his words poorly when he expressed the hope that the demands to ensure the good condition of the tracks would subside once the "emotional outburst" subsides. We cannot underestimate the anguish of the people after the stories we have heard about the experiences of the victims and their families, nor the concern caused by the images of the wrecked trains. The inspection of facilities, and particularly the tracks, will be ongoing, carried out as frequently as necessary, without sparing the necessary resources.

The most positive aspect of recent days has been the cooperation between administrations, especially between the Spanish government and the Regional Government of Andalusia. But, in fact, there was never a truce. On Monday, less than 24 hours after the catastrophe, the leader of the People's Party (PP), Alberto Núñez Feijóo, began complaining that he had received no information about the accident from either the Prime Minister's office or the Ministry of Transport. We are thus once again faced with another source of political tension, which this time has even extended to the controversy over how to honor the victims. The president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, has sought to capitalize on the situation by promoting a funeral at the Almudena Cathedral, located next to the Royal Palace and built on the remains of a mosque. She wrote to the Archdiocese of Madrid proposing this gathering and received a prompt response the following day, setting a date for the religious service, already set for the 29th. In contrast, the state funeral, convened through an agreement between the Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchilla, and the President of the Andalusian Regional Government, Juan Manuel, was scheduled hours later. It is regrettable that a sort of race has to take place between public administrations to organize acts of solidarity with the victims. Ayuso is doing the Church no favors by taking such a self-serving initiative. It would have been different if the Archdiocese itself had made the proposal, or if it had been made by a group directly affected by the tragedy.

I wish that the aftermath of a catastrophe were ever incompatible with acts of pettiness. The People's Party (PP) suffered greatly from its strategy regarding the October 2024 storm and has now drawn untenable comparisons between what happened in Valencia and the handling of the Adamuz accident. The big difference is that in the first case, the ineptitude of a regional president, Carlos Mazón, was exposed, as he was insensitive to the suffering of his people, while now the benefits of an immediate response and collaboration between institutions have been demonstrated. In any case, the opposition will do its job if, after a first week in which the absolute priority should have been caring for the victims, it exerts all the necessary pressure on the government so that we can learn exactly the causes of the Adamuz accident and any resulting liabilities. As for the commuter rail service, enough is enough. Decisive action is needed to provide Catalonia with rail services that meet the needs and demands of the population. Politics cannot be an obstacle. Quite the opposite. What is expected of the administrations and companies is decisiveness and efficiency.

Partisanship regarding the accident

It would be very beneficial for Sánchez and Feijóo to meet soon. Their scheduled meeting last Monday had to be postponed due to the Adamuz accident. This meeting should serve as an opportunity to begin a new chapter. I know it's impossible to expect cooperation between the two major national parties. The struggle for power is a non-negotiable priority for both the PP and the PSOE. But they should act with greater responsibility. Instability has its price. Today, the Socialists are bearing the cost, and perhaps in the not-too-distant future, the Popular Party will have to. If the PSOE's relationship with Sumar is proving complex, and even more so with Podemos and other left-wing groups, we'll have to see what the PP gains from its alliances with Vox. The far right's role regarding the Adamuz accident has been deplorable. "Corruption kills," said Santiago Abascal, as if the collision of these two trains were directly related to other events during this legislative term, with the intention of conflating everything and fomenting confusion and irrational sentiment.

We already saw a chapter of this strategy in Paiporta, in the days following the DANA storm. "Only the people can save the people," was the saying, used to foster contempt and rejection of politics and institutions. The State, public power, is the organized people. The PP and PSOE won't gain much from bleeding themselves dry. Politics benefits from the same thing as the railway network. It benefits—it needs—to regain trust. Sánchez and Feijóo have a complex agenda to address. Spain's response to Trump's threats should be a negotiated state policy. And the same goes for regional funding. It makes no sense for PP-governed regions to refuse more resources because the reform of the model was agreed upon beforehand with Junqueras and Isla. We cannot make it dogma that noise and the constant circle of the adversary are more profitable than agreements that benefit the citizens.