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...

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

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).

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?

> 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...

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)

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

>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.

information war.