Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez pledged on Wednesday that justice would be delivered after two train crashes last month left 47 people dead, stressing that Spain’s rail network ‘is safe’.
The twin tragedies in January stunned the nation and triggered fresh questions about rail safety in a country that operates one of the largest high-speed train systems in the world.
‘The entire state is doing – and will continue to do – everything possible to support the injured and the victims’ families, clarify the causes of the accident, and, if necessary, ensure justice is done,’ Sánchez told the Spanish Congress. ALSO READ: Families of Adamuz train crash victims to receive €216,000 under €20m compensation plan.
He acknowledged shortcomings but defended the system overall, saying Spain’s rail network ‘is not perfect, but it is safe’, and promised all necessary steps would be taken to avoid a repeat of such disasters.
The first accident occurred on 18 January in the southern province of Córdoba (Andalusia), where two high-speed trains collided, killing 46 people in one of Europe’s deadliest rail disasters of the century. ALSO READ: Spain’s train crash victims mourned as families call for truth and justice.
Just two days later, a commuter train near Barcelona crashed into debris from a wall that had collapsed after heavy rainfall. A trainee driver was killed and dozens of passengers were injured. ALSO READ: One dead, 37 injured, as commuter train ploughs into rubble of collapsed wall near Barcelona.
In response, the government struck an agreement with rail unions on Monday to channel 1.8 billion euros into maintenance upgrades, the creation of 3,650 new jobs and enhanced public rail safety measures.
Following the deal, unions cancelled a planned three-day strike. ALSO READ: Spain’s train drivers call off three-day strike after agreement for increased funding for rail upkeep.
The main right-wing opposition party has demanded Sánchez step down, arguing that years of insufficient maintenance funding and staff shortages contributed to the crashes.
People’s Party (PP) leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo told parliament the government had ‘played Russian roulette with our safety’.
He described the Andalusia collision as ‘preventable, not an unforeseeable catastrophe’ and criticised the government for failing to apologise or ‘taking responsibility’.
Santiago Abascal, head of the far-right Vox party, went further, branding the tragedy ‘a crime and not just an accident’.
‘A crime that will weigh on your consciences and for which I hope you will answer before the courts,’ he added.
An initial investigation into the Andalusia crash indicated that a crack in the track may have existed before the disaster. ALSO READ: Initial report from train tragedy investigators points to fracture in track prior to accident.
The scrutiny over rail safety comes at a politically delicate moment for Sánchez, whose minority coalition has been weakened by corruption allegations involving members of his inner circle.
His socialist (PSOE) party suffered a significant defeat in a regional vote in Aragón on Sunday, after recording its worst-ever regional result in its traditional stronghold of Extremadura in December. ALSO READ: PP wins Aragón election, dependent on Vox after far-right surge; PSOE records all-time low.
In both contests, the PP emerged as the largest party while Vox posted substantial gains. ALSO READ: PP wins in Extremadura, but will have to depend on Vox to govern, as PSOE collapses.
Spain opened its passenger rail market to private operators in 2021, ending the long-standing monopoly of state-owned RENFE after liberalisation of the sector. Unions argue that investment in upkeep has failed to match the growth.
Sánchez countered that his administration has almost tripled spending on rail infrastructure since taking office in 2018. The network, he noted, transports more than 12 million passengers every week.
‘There is still work to be done, without a doubt, and much to improve,’ Sánchez told MPs.
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Este Gobierno va a estar al lado de las víctimas y de sus familias. Hoy, mañana y todo el tiempo que haga falta.
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) February 11, 2026
Investigaremos con rigor. Informaremos con transparencia, como venimos haciendo. Y tomaremos las medidas necesarias para que accidentes como el que hoy lloramos, no… pic.twitter.com/1J4aKvzLIC
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