Everything suggests this is not a simple coincidence. Within a few days, two announcements in Spain pointed in the same direction: prioritising railway safety and allocating more resources to maintenance, even at the expense of some previously planned commitments that recent events suggest should be postponed. Spanish authorities are referring to the latest railway accidents, the most serious of which occurred on 18 January 2026 in Adamuz, north of Córdoba, leaving more than forty people dead and dozens injured. This was followed by two derailment incidents caused by severe weather conditions in Maçanet and Gelida in Catalonia.
The first decision taken by the Spanish authorities, which appears more symbolic than practical in its effects, was the announcement that the purchase of thirty new high-speed trains would be postponed. Officially, the move is intended to prioritise the restoration of services and to show respect for the families of those who lost their lives. The order has not been cancelled, however, only delayed, most likely until 2027.
The second decision by the Ministerio de Transportes y Movilidad Sostenible (Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility) involves a significant increase in state funding allocated to Spain’s two railway infrastructure managers, Adif and Adif AV, for infrastructure maintenance, together with a series of measures aimed at improving safety across the national network. The plan covers the period from 2026 to 2030. In 2026, Adif will receive €860 million to be spent during the year, an amount that will rise to almost €1.2 billion by 2030.
According to ministry sources, as a result of this programme, spending on maintenance will increase by 44 per cent between 2025 and 2030. The workforce of the Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Ferroviaria (State Railway Safety Agency) will also be strengthened with around fifty additional specialists, alongside an increase in available financial resources. Adif will likewise benefit from additional staff in order to move beyond simple staff replacement linked to resignations and retirements.
A new body is also being created that will involve railway trade union representatives: a committee designed to coordinate the shared management of safety. Specific working groups will also be established to monitor temporary speed restrictions on the network caused by maintenance works and to manage weather alerts more effectively.
Piermario Curti Sacchi
