Spain Implements Speed Limit Reduction on High-Speed Rail Following Track Fault

Mon Feb 02 2026 23:56:03 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In response to a detected fault in the high-speed rail lines, Spain has temporarily reduced the speed limit on key routes, enhancing safety protocols amid recent rail accidents.

Spanish authorities have reduced the speed limit on a high-speed rail line between Madrid and Barcelona after discovering a crack in the track. The change comes in the wake of a tragic train collision that claimed 45 lives. Speed limits will now be set at 80 km/h until further assessments are conducted.

Spanish rail authorities have temporarily reduced the speed limit on part of the high-speed line between Madrid and Barcelona following a fault detected in the track.

Transport Minister Óscar Puente announced that a crack was discovered on Sunday night in the railway line, located 110km (68 miles) west of Barcelona, between Alcover and l'Espluga de Francolí in Catalonia.

This urgent measure comes just days after a devastating high-speed collision in southern Spain, which resulted in the deaths of 45 individuals, amid ongoing disruptions to local rail services in the northeast region of the country.

The transport ministry reassured the public that the defect in the line does not currently pose a danger to trains operating on it, and services will continue as scheduled.

The speed limit on the affected segment of the track will now be capped at 80km/h (50mph), a significant decrease from the typical speeds of up to 300km/h on these lines, which are among the most utilized for long-distance travel in Spain.

Earlier last week, the speed limit was temporarily reduced to 230 km/h due to reports of vibrations and anomalies by train operators; it was later restored after technical inspections. Similar speed cap measures were also applied to certain sections of the Madrid-Valencia line.

In addition to this situation, the local Rodalies rail service in Catalonia has faced severe disruptions in recent days. Following an incident last week in which a trainee driver was killed due to a train striking a collapsed wall, service was halted as drivers called for better safety guarantees and a comprehensive review of rail lines.

On Monday, two more incidents sidelined the Rodalies service, which was subsequently resumed partially. The government has yet to identify the cause of these disruptions and has not dismissed the possibility of a cyberattack. The Catalan Republican Left (ERC) party criticized the Rodalies network for years of underinvestment, highlighting the need for urgent reforms.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is set to address Congress about the ongoing rail crisis on February 11, as investigations continue regarding the circumstances surrounding the deadly Adamuz high-speed collision.

Officials are examining a 40cm (16in) section of track that failed just before the derailment caused by a clash between two trains. According to the transportation ministry, that line had recently undergone extensive renovation and inspections. However, issues arose when a newly replaced rail section, manufactured in 2023, was found to be improperly welded to an older component dating back to 1989, leading to its subsequent crack.

The head of the investigation commission, Iñaki Barrón, expressed concerns that the failure of the welded connections likely led to the fatal incident. This heightened scrutiny has prompted calls for the resignation of Transport Minister Óscar Puente as opposition leaders accuse him of failing to keep the public properly informed in the aftermath of the tragedy.