The crime affected thousands of commuters, leaving many stranded in trains or at railway stations overnight just a week after similar scenes during a nationwide power blackout. It also sparked a political quarrel. Thieves took cables from five points along a roughly 10-kilometer (about 6-mile) stretch of rail line in what Transport Minister Oscar Puente described as a “serious act of sabotage” in a post on X.
“If anyone can offer information, any assistance is appreciated,” said Puente. “These incidents are very serious.”
The minister said the thieves had gained access to the cable via forest trails between olive trees.State-owned national rail infrastructure operator Adif said high-speed services had been restored between Madrid-Toledo and Madrid-Andalusia — both out of Madrid and from the southern stations in Seville, Malaga, and Granada. It said that traffic would return to normal throughout the course of Monday. PoliticsSpain
Spain: Police probe theft of high-speed rail cables
Richard Connor with AFP, dpa, EFE, Reuters
2 hours ago2 hours ago
Thousands were stranded by disruptions which came just days after a country-wide blackout left millions in the dark. Some passengers were forced to spend the night on board their trains.
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Travelers wait for news about their delayed trains at Madrid’s Atocha train station
Travelers were stranded overnight at train stations as well as on board stationary trainsImage: Manu Fernandez/AP Photo/picture alliance
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Spain opened an investigation into the theft of copper signaling cables on the high-speed line between Madrid and Andalusia.
The crime affected thousands of commuters, leaving many stranded in trains or at railway stations overnight just a week after similar scenes during a nationwide power blackout. It also sparked a political quarrel.
What do we know about the cable thefts?
Thieves took cables from five points along a roughly 10-kilometer (about 6-mile) stretch of rail line in what Transport Minister Oscar Puente described as a “serious act of sabotage” in a post on X.
“If anyone can offer information, any assistance is appreciated,” said Puente. “These incidents are very serious.”
The minister said the thieves had gained access to the cable via forest trails between olive trees.
State-owned national rail infrastructure operator Adif said high-speed services had been restored between Madrid-Toledo and Madrid-Andalusia — both out of Madrid and from the southern stations in Seville, Malaga, and Granada. It said that traffic would return to normal throughout the course of Monday.
How were passengers affected?
The theft meant that thousands of people were left waiting in Madrid’s Atocha station, with nine trains stranded between stations and many passengers forced to spend the night onboard.
The latest disruption followed a long weekend in Madrid and ahead of the Andalusian capital Seville’s famous Feria festival.
Hundreds of passengers were also left stuck on trains last week amid a nationwide blackout that hit Spain and neighboring Portugal.
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