Spain: High-speed train traffic resumes one month after Adamuz tragedy

Passengers traveling between Madrid and southern Spain have regained direct rail connections. Exactly on February 17, 2026, one month after one of the most tragic rail disasters in the region's history, AVE trains and trains of the operator Iryo returned to the tracks. The first journeys were marked by strong emotions; drivers passing the accident site in Adamuz paid tribute to the victims by using sound horns. Although the line is passable, strict speed limits of 60 kilometers per hour are in place at the incident location, which, combined with technical problems, caused delays of up to 90 minutes. The investigation into the causes of the January 18 tragedy is still ongoing and focuses on the technical condition of the rails. Adif is examining the hypothesis of a broken rail or faulty welds that may have led to the derailment of the Iryo train heading towards Madrid. This train veered onto the adjacent track and collided head-on with an Alvia train bound for Huelva. Despite the resumption of traffic, full normality has not yet been restored in the entire region. Connections to Málaga and Huelva still require transfers to buses due to ongoing modernization and repair works, which are expected to last at least until early March. The Spanish high-speed network is the second longest in the world after China, and its origins date back to 1992, when the first Madrid-Seville line was opened for the Expo exhibition.The first day of the line's renewed operation was not without incidents. One of the trains had to be stopped for 12 minutes precisely in the vicinity of Adamuz due to a loose part of the traction system. Technical services immediately checked the fault, considering it a minor failure that did not endanger passenger safety. For Andalusia, the month-long suspension of train services was a major economic blow, particularly affecting the tourism and hotel industry, which relies on efficient transport from Madrid. „Passengers approach the journey with surprising calm, although at the point of the disaster the train slows down drastically, reminding us all of the cost of this tragedy.” — Juanjo CuéllarFatalities: 46, Injured: 120, Hospitalized (after one month): 730 days — lasting blockade of the main railway artery connecting Madrid with southern SpainTimeline of events in Adamuz: — ; — ; — ; — Media focus on insufficient government response and infrastructure problems, highlighting losses for the private sector. | The narrative concentrates on the efficient repair of the line by Adif and Renfe and on the technical aspects of the investigation conducted by experts.