The Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, has not specified when high-speed services between Madrid and Andalusia will resume, which have been affected by weather conditions and the state of the tracks. He has apologised for the Rodalies service and indicated that improvements are underway. Puente has stated that resolving the issues with Rodalies cannot be done in just a couple of days and has called on Siemens to provide explanations for the disruption. In a session that lasted more than five hours, the incidents in Adamuz and Gélida, which resulted in 47 fatalities, were explained, and the minister committed to maintaining transparency. Additionally, he has announced that he will meet with the unions this Wednesday to prevent the strike planned for next week in the railway sector. Regarding the Rodalies service, Puente has expressed that the improvement of the service is in progress and that the incidents are due to excessive construction work. Concerning the reactivation of the Madrid-Andalusia line, he expressed his regret over the accumulation of problems, as the impact on the infrastructure is compounded by the weather, leading the Junta to implement mobility restrictions. Representatives from the PP, Vox, and Junts have called for Puente’s resignation, while the Government’s allies have demanded a change in the railway model that prioritises maintenance. The representative from the Popular Party pointed out that the collapse of the railway system has been warned about for years, while the Government has neglected it. This collapse has also been mentioned by the spokesperson for Vox, Carina Mejías, who has argued about the minister’s negligence. Félix Alonso, representative of Sumar, has highlighted that it makes no sense to boast about a high-speed network if it does not provide guarantees, a sentiment that has also been expressed by those from the PNV and Bildu.
Puente does not provide a date for the return of the Madrid-Andalusia line and apologises for Rodalies.
