Spain officials quit over trains that were made too wide for tunnels
Two top Spanish transport officials have resigned over a botched order for new commuter trains that cost nearly €260 million ($275 million; £230 million).
The trains could not fit into non-standard tunnels in the northern regions of Asturias and Cantabria.
The head of Spain’s rail operator Renfe, Isaías Táboas, and the Secretary of State for Transport, Isabel Pardo de Vera, have now left their roles. The design fault was made public earlier this month.
The Spanish government said the mistake was spotted early enough to avoid financial loss. However the region of Cantabria has demanded compensation.
Renfe ordered the trains in 2020 but the following year manufacturer CAF realized that the dimensions it had been given for the trains were inaccurate and stopped construction.
The rail network in northern Spain was built in the 19th Century and has tunnels under the mountainous landscape that do not match standard modern tunnel dimensions.
The mistake means the trains will be delivered in 2026, two years late.
Renfe and infrastructure operator Adif have launched a joint investigation to find out how the error could have happened. Earlier this month, Spain’s Transport Ministry fired a Renfe manager and Adif’s head of track technology over the blunder.
The head of Spain’s rail operator Renfe, Isaías Táboas, and the Secretary of State for Transport, Isabel Pardo de Vera, have now left their roles. The design fault was made public earlier this month.
The Spanish government said the mistake was spotted early enough to avoid financial loss. However the region of Cantabria has demanded compensation.
Renfe ordered the trains in 2020 but the following year manufacturer CAF realized that the dimensions it had been given for the trains were inaccurate and stopped construction.
The rail network in northern Spain was built in the 19th Century and has tunnels under the mountainous landscape that do not match standard modern tunnel dimensions.
The mistake means the trains will be delivered in 2026, two years late.
Renfe and infrastructure operator Adif have launched a joint investigation to find out how the error could have happened. Earlier this month, Spain’s Transport Ministry fired a Renfe manager and Adif’s head of track technology over the blunder.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
