Focus of Investigation into Adamuz train tragedy

The investigation into the devastating railway accident in Adamuz, Cordoba Province, on Sunday evening, which claimed at least 39 lives and injured over a hundred passengers, is focusing mostly on the condition of the tracks and the potential role of prior warnings about its deterioration.

The collision occurred when the last three carriages (carriages 6 to 8) of an Iryo high-speed train travelling from Malaga to Madrid derailed in the evening of Sunday, January 18, invading the adjacent track. This caused a head-on impact with an Alvia train heading from Madrid to Huelva, travelling at approximately 200 km/h. The force of the collision sent the first two carriages of the Alvia off the tracks and into a 4-metre-deep embankment, resulting in the majority of fatalities.

Broken track identified in investigation

Preliminary findings from the Guardia Civil indicate that inspectors have detected several broken sections of rail at the accident site. Sources close to the investigation, confirmed by the ministry, stress that it remains unclear whether these fractures were the cause of the derailment or a consequence of the impact. Minister Óscar Puente described the incident as “tremendously strange” and “difficult to explain,” saying that the line had been fully renewed with a 700-million-euro investment, with works on this specific section completed in May 2025. He highlighted that the Iryo train was relatively new (under four years old) and the accident happened on a straight section. He has not made any statements since.

Letter from train drivers’ union to Ministry of Transport

However, these official assurances contrast with earlier concerns raised by train drivers. In August 2025, the SEMAF train drivers’ union sent a letter to Adif (the infrastructure manager), the State Railway Safety Agency (AESF), and Minister Puente warning of rapid degradation of the tracks due to increased traffic from new high-speed operators (including Iryo, Ouigo, and Avlo) and heavier axle loads. Drivers reported abnormal vibrations, “bumps”, and instability at full speed (around 300 km/h), which they said was causing deep wear on rolling stock and frequent breakdowns. They urged reducing speeds to a maximum of 250 km/h in affected sections and claimed daily reports to Adif went unaddressed.

Train users post their concerns over the vibrations

Tikún Olam on X posted a video of her last trip by train from Sevilla to Zaragoza revealing the extent of the vibrations.
“On my last trip (November) back from Seville to Zaragoza I recorded this video that I shared on my X profile, because I was quite worried that the train vibrated too much. There were parts in which I was very worried. Many people who were on the train commented the same thing.”

Railway union representative Rafael Escudero suggested two main hypotheses: either a failure in the train’s wheel truck (such as a broken wheel flange), though he said such issues are rare due to regular inspections, or problems with the track infrastructure itself. He leaned toward the latter, citing prior complaints from drivers, onboard staff, and maintenance teams about excessive vibrations.

The letter, which the Ministry of Transport have acknowledged receiving, begins:
“We inform you of our deep concern for the general state of the lines, and in particular of the 010, 030, 040 and 050 of the High Speed network, The train drivers who carry out their work daily for them they are finding a lot of bumps, irregularities, decompensation in the overhead cables, etc., which are producing a lack of comfort and reliability in travel for both travellers and the train driver.”

Focus on victims before details of why this happened

According to the president of the autonomous region of Andalucia, Juanma Moreno, many of the clues behind the reason for the accident will probably lie beneath the twisted wreckage of the trains, but for now, the priority is identifying all of the victims.

The Guardia Civil is leading key aspects of the probe, including on-site evidence collection with over 200 officers, helicopters, and drones. They have established DNA collection points in command centres across Cordoba, Malaga, and Huelva to aid victim identification amid the tragedy’s scale. The case falls under the Civil and Instructional Section of the Montoro Court of First Instance. Concerned family members continue to post photos of loved ones who they have not been able to locate and who were on the train at the time.

A formal investigation by the Railway Accident Investigation Commission is underway, with experts expected to examine track integrity, train components, and maintenance records. Authorities urge against speculation while recovery and identification efforts continue. The tragedy has prompted a nationwide official three days of mourning and calls for thorough accountability to prevent future incidents.

While it is still too early to definitively say what the cause of the accident was, and with no word from the Minister of Transport, anger and frustration is building in Spain while the families of the victims suffer intolerable mourning.