On May 5, 2025, Renfe, the main railway operator on the high-speed line connecting Madrid and Seville, is nearing a return to normalcy following significant disruptions caused by a theft of cables in Toledo. The incident, which occurred on May 4, affected over 10,700 travelers across 30 trains, leading to delays of two to three hours as operations resumed around 9:30 AM.
The cable theft, which took place at four different locations along the AVE line, coincided with the end of the Labor Day holiday weekend in Madrid and the upcoming Feria de Abril in Seville. Minister of Transport Óscar Puente characterized the theft as a coordinated act of sabotage, stating, "It is a fairly coordinated action. Whoever did it knew what they were doing." A judge has since opened an investigation, with the Civil Guard leading the inquiry.
As of early Monday morning, approximately 16 trains and nearly 6,000 passengers were still experiencing delays due to the aftermath of the theft. The stolen cable, which was critical for signaling safety on the tracks, left the railway system effectively blind, causing significant disruptions to train schedules.
Renfe's president, Álvaro Fernández Heredia, explained that the chaos was exacerbated by a separate incident involving an Iryo train that encountered a problem with the catenary system after the cable theft. "This incident allowed for limited speed and delays of about 60 minutes," he noted.
Travelers were advised not to arrive at Atocha station before 8:00 AM to avoid overcrowding, as many trains to Andalusia continued to experience delays. By 9:30 AM, services began to gradually resume, with trains departing from both Madrid and Seville, albeit still facing significant delays.
In response to the disruptions, Renfe reserved 220 hotel rooms for affected travelers and has been working to reallocate passengers to other services. However, many travelers expressed frustration over the lack of information provided during the chaos. One traveler, stranded for hours, lamented, "We are still waiting for any updates; it feels like they are playing with our time."
The incident has sparked political reactions, with various parties blaming the government for the failures in the railway system. The spokesperson for the Junta de Andalucía, Carolina España, accused the government of neglecting the AVE service, stating, "The one who sabotages Renfe is the government itself, which has deteriorated the AVE like never before by not providing sufficient resources."
Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of the Community of Madrid, also criticized the government's handling of the situation, asserting that "with this government, nothing works. Since Pedro Sánchez took office, everything has been chaos."
Meanwhile, the leader of the opposition, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, condemned the situation, stating, "Spain has to function again. Images of thousands of Spaniards trapped in trains overnight, without water or anything, are unacceptable for the fourth-largest economy in Europe."
In the wake of the incident, the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Civil Guard have intensified efforts to investigate the theft of cables, which is part of a broader trend in Spain. In 2024, authorities recorded 4,433 cases of copper theft, marking an 87% increase compared to five years prior. This rise has raised concerns among officials about the security of essential infrastructure.
The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility announced that by 2:00 PM on May 5, 2025, full operational capacity on the Madrid-Seville line was expected to be restored. However, travelers were still advised to anticipate delays throughout the day.
As the railway system slowly returns to normal, many passengers are left questioning the reliability of services. Some have expressed anger over the lack of contingency plans for such incidents, while others are demanding better security measures to prevent future occurrences. The ongoing investigation aims to clarify the motivations behind the cable theft and hold those responsible accountable.
In summary, the cable theft incident on the AVE line has not only disrupted travel for thousands but has also ignited a political firestorm, highlighting ongoing concerns about the management and security of Spain's railway infrastructure. As investigations continue, passengers remain hopeful for swift resolutions and improved safety measures in the future.
