Over 10,000 passengers were affected by train cancellations due to a significant copper cable theft between Madrid and Andalusia. Authorities launched an investigation into the incident, labeled as "serious sabotage," while services were gradually restored following the disruption.
Copper Cable Heist Disrupts Train Services Across Spain
Copper Cable Heist Disrupts Train Services Across Spain
Thousands of travelers left stranded as copper cable theft halts high-speed train operations in Spain.
Thousands were left stranded on Spanish train services after thieves stole copper cables, leading to a complete halt of high-speed trains between Madrid and Andalusia. The alarming incident occurred on Sunday, prompting an immediate response from authorities, who launched an investigation to address the serious sabotage, as described by Transport Minister Óscar Puente.
The disturbance affected over 10,000 passengers, causing chaos particularly for those traveling between major cities including Seville, Malaga, Valencia, and Granada. People remained stuck overnight at train stations such as Atocha in Madrid, leading to frustrating delays and uncertainty about their travel plans. As the minister noted, the theft took place across five locations, with each site located mere kilometers apart along the busy high-speed line.
"The operations were severely impacted after a long weekend in Madrid and ahead of the popular Feria festival in Seville,” Puente continued, adding that services were completely restored the following day after significant challenges during the night. The Spanish national rail operator, Adif, also reported that train services returned to normal by Monday afternoon.
While investigations by the civil guard and local police are underway to identify the perpetrators, there has been a noted increase in such cable thefts recently, coinciding with the rising price of copper. This incident closely follows a recent blackout that affected both Spain and Portugal, although the exact cause of that power failure remains unknown.
The wave of disruptions has many questioning the safety and reliability of travel across the region, as tourists and locals alike navigate the aftermath of this unprecedented event.
