Urda rail crash leaves Andalusia cut off from Madrid and tourism reeling

The train accident at Urda (Toledo) on 28 October killed at least 69 people. The high-speed line between Madrid and Seville is now closed indefinitely, and no official date has been set for restoring service. In Granada province, tourist occupancy reached 70% over the All Saints' long weekend from 30 October to 2 November, below a pre-holiday forecast of 76%, with cancellations of up to 15%. The Seville tourism association ASET estimates bookings have dropped about 20% and says travellers are losing confidence in Spanish high-speed rail.

In Córdoba, mayor José María Bellido asked the central government for at least one daily return flight to Madrid-Barajas at affordable fares. Municipal calculations put direct losses for the tourism sector at almost half a million euros a day while the line stays shut. Salvador Fuentes, president of the Córdoba provincial council, proposed a Madrid-Córdoba air bridge for November and December. Manuel Gavira, the Andalusian regional government's tourism councillor, said he would meet airlines and tourism operators and listed Jerez airport as an alternative. Regional president Juanma Moreno criticised Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for keeping Transport Minister Óscar Puente in post.