Spain decides to adopt new safety measures for rail transport after train accident

Almost a week after the train accident that left 69 dead, the Spanish government has decided on measures to improve safety in rail transport. In addition, an aid package of 30 million euros for victims and relatives was approved, said the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. "We assure to work tirelessly to restore and achieve public confidence in high-speed trains," said Transport Minister Óscar Puente.

Two high-speed trains collided on Wednesday last week near the municipality of Urda, south of Madrid. A train operated by the state railway company Renfe ran into a stationary train operated by the private operator Iryo from behind. It was the second serious train accident in just nine months in Spain - in January, 46 people were killed in a collision between two high-speed trains in Adamuz in Andalusia.

Train control system and control center in focus

While in the case of Adamuz et al. A broken track is believed to be the cause, the investigation into the accident in Urda focuses primarily on the failure of the LZB train protection system and possible errors in the control center of the network operator Adif. According to previous findings, an employee gave incorrect instructions after the control system failed.

The number of trains between Madrid and Seville should now be reduced until the new European train control system ERTMS goes into operation there, explained Puente. If the current LZB system fails, a second employee in the control center will have to check and confirm the instructions to the train drivers. This is intended to prevent trains from continuing to travel despite unclear route conditions.

In addition, the number of staff in the control centers is to be increased and the working conditions of the employees are to be improved. The government also decided to impose price caps on alternative transport during the closure of the accident route to prevent excessive costs for travelers.

All fatalities identified

The aid package includes direct state aid, advances on subsequent compensation payments and a doubling of benefits from statutory passenger insurance. Victims and their relatives should be looked after through specially set up contact points. There is also a special provision for temporary incapacity for work for injured people.

Almost four weeks before the early parliamentary elections in Spain, Prime Minister Sánchez's minority government is under massive criticism because of the train accident. The opposition is calling for personnel consequences after the second serious train accident this year.

All 69 people who died in the accident - 40 men and 29 women - have now been identified, authorities said. 37 of the total of around 200 injured are still being treated in hospitals.