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elnatro 3 hours ago

The current government has been found to be cutting corners in maintaining the Cercanías commuter railway network[1]. Indeed last year some machinists had to derail a train to stop it from crashing other[2].

The former Transport Minister is jailed because of corruption in public contracts, and hiring prostitutes[3][4].

The government is doing a poor job maintaining the current railway network.

[1]: https://www.eldebate.com/espana/madrid/20251119/cercanias-ma...

[2]: https://www.vozpopuli.com/espana/tren-accidentado-renfe-reco...

[3]: https://www.infobae.com/espana/2025/12/23/adif-altero-puntua...

[4]: https://www.elespanol.com/espana/tribunales/20250412/koldo-e...

arielcostas 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Every government in Spain for the last decade or more has been cutting corners in maintaining the rail networks: high speed (where this accident happened), the conventional network and commuter rail. You failed to mention the fact our budget has been extended since 2023, that the actual track where this happened was given maintenance under a year ago (per the minister, [^1]) and the train that first derailed (Iryo's ETR1000) was last checked 4 days ago.

Regarding the former Minister (Ábalos), he's awaiting trial and not yet convicted (even though, IMHO he is probably guilty), and he hasn't been in the ministry since 2021[^2] so it makes no sense to bring it up when he has been out for nearly 4.5 years now.

[^1]: https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/espana/2026/01/18/osca... [^2]: https://www.elconfidencialdigital.com/articulo/otros/jose-lu...

elnatro an hour ago | parent [-]

According to current minister, the issues come from others before him, so it indeed makes sense to bring that up.

Blaming others for the current underinvestment of the railway network is disingenuous.

jacquesm 14 minutes ago | parent [-]

Politicians always blame their predecessors.

heyheyhouhou 22 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I think you are just stirring the pot and cherry picking news.

"Cercanias" is a different rail network to the one where the accident happened (high-speed). Also the political issue that you are mentioning happened 5 years ago on a single individual not directly affiliated to the organization that manages the rail network. Please let's be serious and bring constructive things to the conversation

severino 44 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

What does the "Cercanías" conmuter network in Madrid have to do with the high-speed AVE network where the accident took place? They are two different networks, and even if the first one isn't well maintained as you claim, it doesn't mean the other one has to be in the same situation.

Also, it's been four and a half years since the former Transport Minister who is in jail left the office (july 2021).

melted_cursor an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> The current government has been found to be cutting corners

Where do the articles mention that the current government has been cutting corners? In fact, they have increased the current investment plan on the Cercanías commuter railway network to more than 7,000 million euro, from 5.000 million that the previous government planned[1].

Now, this isn't to that the current political landscape is fine because ( as portrayed by the last articles ) is totally unacceptable, and of course that affects the rail network negatively.

[1]: https://maldita.es/malditateexplica/20231212/cercanias-madri...

elnatro an hour ago | parent | next [-]

The Cercanías commuter railway network is in a state of disarray[1]. There has been a mismanagement of funds in the railway authority[2][3][4].

Maldita.es is founded by ex-employees of La Sexta, a TV channel known to be politically aligned with the socialist party (currently in the government).

[1]: https://www.vozpopuli.com/economia/la-carencia-de-repuestos-...

[2]: https://www.eldebate.com/espana/20250626/marido-pardo-vera-f...

[3]: https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/5729873/0/quien-es-isabel-p...

[4]: https://www.elespanol.com/espana/20250717/cese-discreto-alto...

melted_cursor 24 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

> Maldita.es is founded by ex-employees of La Sexta, a TV channel known to be politically aligned with the socialist party

In this particular article they were fact-checking a wrong claim made by the socialist party, to me that shows that besides their alignment, they care about fact checking information. They also mention that the last three development plans were developed by PP ( People's party ) -- if they're aligned with the socialist party, why are they mentioning this and leave the socialist party "in a bad light"?

In regard to the state of the railway network, I totally agree with what you mentioned. Thought corruption will inevitably occur and doesn't mean that the persons above are aware of it nor that the socialist party is intentionally cutting funds. Nonetheless, totally unacceptable.

Mordisquitos 20 minutes ago | parent | prev [-]

> Maldita.es is founded by ex-employees of La Sexta, a TV channel known to be politically aligned with the socialist party (currently in the government).

How does that relate to the Maldita.es article linked by GP commenter? The article starts by debunking a false claim that was made by a minister in the socialist government against the conservative regional government of Madrid.

elnatro 9 minutes ago | parent [-]

I don’t read politically-charged news articles. No matter the ideology of those.

kaoD 27 minutes ago | parent | prev [-]

Quick reminder that more spending does not equal better spending.

RobertoG an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I can tell that you really don't like the current government but you should relax a little.

There is an accident with death people, maybe people still trapped there and the causes are still unknown. Too early to start playing politics, don't you think?

elnatro 44 minutes ago | parent [-]

I am relaxed. Are you? Is this a poor way of attempting to attack my arguments either an ad hominem?

severino 21 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

> Is this a poor way of attempting to attack my arguments either an ad hominem?

They're only warning that your comments about this accident seem to be politically motivated, so that they should be taken with a grain of salt.

heyheyhouhou 32 minutes ago | parent | prev [-]

you dont look so...

elnatro 27 minutes ago | parent [-]

Why do you say I am not relaxed?

rawling an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

From [2] (machine-translated):

> The accident occurred near Atocha station, on a curve where signage indicates a speed limit of 45 kilometers per hour. However, sources consulted by this newspaper assert that the train, out of control, easily approached speeds of 90 to 100 kilometers per hour, ultimately resulting in the derailment. [...] Two mechanics who were inside the wrecked train escaped injury.

Any indication they deliberately derailed the train?

Edit: yes! E.g.

https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2024/10/22/railway-w...

(Non-specific?)

https://euroweeklynews.com/2024/10/26/investigation-reveals-...

(Says the train was diverted away from others, rather than deliberately derailed maybe)

smcl an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Anyone serious about rail engineering or safety isn't excitedly dashing off comments pointing fingers before the dust has even settled. Those who are doing that - such as the comment I am replying to - should be ignored

ThePowerOfFuet an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

>Indeed last year some machinists had to derail a train to stop it from crashing other[2].

They were pulling it uphill with another unit, and the coupler broke so it rolled backwards and flipped at the curve.

elnatro 43 minutes ago | parent [-]

Im what context it is normal to derail a train to avoid a crash with another one?

jojomodding 36 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-made/the-runaway-swiss-tr...

More often than you think.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch_points

Especially when the train to be derailed is slow-moving or a freight train or runaway.

pxndxx 36 minutes ago | parent | prev [-]

What course of action would you have suggested?

elnatro 33 minutes ago | parent [-]

Not have to do it in the first place because of automated controls and fail-safes?

kranke155 39 minutes ago | parent | prev [-]

information war.

elnatro 34 minutes ago | parent [-]

Is information war telling that the railway transport authority was aware of issues in the accident location for years?[1]

[1]: https://www.elespanol.com/reportajes/20260119/adif-notifico-...