Spanish rail authorities have temporarily reduced the speed limit on part of the high-speed line between Madrid and Barcelona after a fault was detected on the track.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente stated that a crack was found on Sunday night in the line 110 kilometers (68 miles) west of Barcelona, between Alcover and l'Espluga de Francolí, in the Catalonia region.
This measure follows a tragic high-speed collision that killed 45 people in southern Spain and a period of severe disruption to local rail services.
The transport ministry assured that the defect did not pose a danger to trains currently operating on the line.
The speed limit in the affected section is now set at 80 km/h (50 mph), drastically reduced from trains' usual speeds of up to 300 km/h on one of Spain's busiest long-distance routes.
Recent incidents have already led to other temporary speed reductions along high-speed routes after reports of vibrations and anomalies by drivers.
Meanwhile, local Rodalies rail services in Catalonia faced severe delays, with two additional incidents causing further chaos, raising questions about the stability of the rail network.
As investigations continue regarding the Adamuz tragedy, where a train derailed due to a broken track, the head of the independent commission pointed to the possibility that issues with track welding might have contributed to the disaster.
Amidst this crisis, opposition politicians have called for the resignation of Transport Minister Óscar Puente, citing concerns about public safety and transparency.
