In brief
Spanish transport officials have announced a temporary speed limit reduction on part of the high-speed train line connecting Madrid and Barcelona due to a detected fault. Transport Minister Óscar Puente confirmed a crack in the track was found, prompting a limit of 80 km/h while investigations into recent rail incidents continue. Tensions around rail safety have heightened following a high-profile train crash that killed 45 people, leading to scrutiny of the country's rail infrastructure and demand for improved safety measures.
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 said a crack had been found on Sunday night in the line 110 km (68 miles) west of Barcelona, between Alcover and l'Espluga de Francolí, in the Catalonia region.
This comes days after a high-speed collision killed 45 people in southern Spain and amid severe disruption to local rail services in the north-east of the country.
The transport ministry reported that the fault in the line did not pose a danger to trains travelling along it, meaning operations would continue albeit at a reduced speed.
The speed limit on the affected section of track will now be set at 80 km/h (50 mph) until further notice, with high-speed trains typically travelling at speeds up to 300 km/h along this heavily used corridor.
Recently, the limit on several sections of the Madrid-Barcelona line was reduced to 230 km/h after issues related to vibrations were reported by drivers, though these were restored following technical checks.
Additional segments of the Madrid-Valencia line have also seen temporary reductions to their speed limits ranging from 160 km/h to 200 km/h.
The local Rodalies rail service in Catalonia has faced severe disruptions, having been grounded last week due to safety concerns following the tragic death of a trainee driver and logistical issues caused by infrastructure failures. The Spanish government is now investigating the possibility of a cyberattack related to the chaos.
As the investigation into the recent crash continues, political pressure mountson Transport Minister Óscar Puente amid accusations of negligence on safety standards within Spain's rail system.
