European Public Prosecutor's Office Investigates Madrid-Sevilla Rail Line

The European Public Prosecutor's Office launched an anti-corruption operation regarding the recent train tragedy in Urda, which resulted in 69 deaths. The Central Operational Unit of the Civil Guard began requesting documents and records from Adif, the Court of Audit, and the State Agency for Railway Safety.

This investigation follows a suspected fraud inquiry affecting European funds designated for the modernization and improvement of safety, signaling, and communication systems along the Madrid-Sevilla high-speed railway line. The tragic accident occurred on October 28 near Urda in Toledo. Fiscal sources stated that the primary objective is to seize contracts where European funds were allocated to safety systems such as LZB or ERTMS.

The European body decided to open this investigation on its own initiative following a brief verification process. Due to the severity of the situation, agents were ordered to immediately request the necessary case files from the targeted organizations. These inquiries will proceed alongside a separate investigation opened by a court in Orgaz to clarify the facts of the accident.

Last March, the European Public Prosecutor's Office also opened an inquiry to determine the proper use of European funds earmarked for maintaining the rail section where the Adamuz tragedy occurred in Córdoba, claiming 46 lives. Both railway disasters deeply shook the country and led to the resignation of Transport Minister Óscar Puente.

While the European Union institution focuses strictly on safeguarding financial interests against potential embezzlement, ordinary Spanish courts are concurrently conducting separate investigations to determine criminal liability for both fatal crashes. The Tribunal of Instance of Montoro is handling the Adamuz case, while the Orgaz tribunal oversees Urda.

During the current probe, investigators gathered information regarding signaling and communication renewal efforts on Spain's oldest high-speed corridor. Adif confirmed its full cooperation with the authorities. The questioned safety systems include the LZB technology, which regulates train speeds and experienced a computer failure leading up to the Urda accident.

The older LZB system was scheduled for replacement by the ERTMS standard required by the European Union. Adif awarded a contract in 2021 valued at nearly 94 million euros to the French firm Thales to handle the renewal of signaling and communication installations, with completion originally planned for earlier this year.

Meanwhile, journalist Fernando Berlin noted that the European inquiries are influenced by political pressure. He pointed out that the People's Party formally asked European authorities to investigate the use of railway-related funds back in January, providing momentum that led to the European body's formal oversight.