Particle.news
Download on the App Store
14 ARTICLES
·
3w ago

Copper Cable Theft Disrupts Spanish High-Speed Rail, Stranding Thousands

Theft targeting signaling cables in Toledo paralyzed Madrid–Seville services, with limited routes resuming as restoration efforts continue.

Passengers wait to be given access to their trains after cable stolen from a high-speed train line between Madrid and Andalusia caused delays at Atocha station in Madrid, Spain, May 5, 2025. REUTERS/Susana Vera
Passengers wait to be given access to their trains after cable stolen from a high-speed train line between Madrid and Andalusia caused delays at Atocha station in Madrid, Spain, May 5, 2025. REUTERS/Susana Vera
An electronic board displays information about delays as passengers wait to be given access to their trains after a cable was stolen from a high-speed train line between Madrid and Andalusia at Atocha station in Madrid, Spain, May 5, 2025. REUTERS/Susana Vera

Overview

  • Copper cables were stolen from four locations near Toledo, halting high-speed rail services between Madrid and Seville late Sunday evening.
  • The theft, classified as sabotage by Transport Minister Óscar Puente, left nine trains stranded and thousands of passengers delayed or stuck overnight.
  • Limited services to Toledo resumed Monday morning, but routes to Seville and Malaga remain suspended as ADIF works to replace the stolen cables.
  • Madrid's Atocha station saw significant overcrowding and confusion, with passengers frustrated by a lack of timely updates from rail operators.
  • The incident highlights vulnerabilities in Spain's high-speed rail network, which spans remote areas and has been a target for low-value, high-impact thefts.