Spain's transportation network faced a significant disruption over the weekend, following a coordinated cable theft that affected high-speed train services between Madrid and Seville. This incident, which occurred from Sunday night into Monday morning, coincided with the end of a long holiday and the celebration of Mother's Day, causing chaos for thousands of travelers.
According to reports from RadarBanyuwangi.id, the theft involved four separate locations where cables were stolen, and Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente referred to the act as 'sabotage' rather than mere theft. He noted that the perpetrators seemed to have a thorough understanding of the terrain, as all the theft sites were out of reach of surveillance cameras.
While the economic value of the stolen cables was relatively low, the impact on the transportation network was severe. Approximately 30 trains, carrying a total of 10,700 passengers, were stranded due to the damage. One passenger even reported being stuck on a train for up to 15 hours, highlighting the extent of the disruption.
To mitigate the situation, a diesel locomotive was dispatched to tow the stranded trains to areas where power was restored. However, services to major cities, including Toledo, Puertollano, and various locations in Andalusia, faced delays as a result of the incident. Passengers were advised to avoid the Atocha Madrid station until 8:00 AM local time, as the station was overwhelmed with stranded travelers.
This incident came just days after Spain experienced the largest power outage in its history, which had already strained the country's infrastructure. The power outage, which occurred on April 28, 2025, affected around 50 million people in both Spain and Portugal and is estimated to have cost the economy nearly €400 million (approximately Rp7.45 trillion).
According to Bloomberg, consumer spending in Spain dropped by 34% on the day of the power outage, as households struggled without electricity. CaixaBank SA, Spain's largest domestic bank, reported that while some of the spending decline was compensated for in the following days, there was still an overall net decrease of 15% compared to normal levels.
CaixaBank's estimates suggest that the power outage will have a one-time impact on quarterly GDP, affecting it by less than one-tenth of a percentage point. The bank's analysis was based on data from card usage, online purchases, and cash withdrawals from ATMs.
The power outage began around 12:30 PM local time, disrupting not only transportation services but also telecommunications and the retail sector. The government in Madrid is currently investigating the causes of the outage, which has raised serious concerns about the reliability of Spain's infrastructure.
As the country grapples with these challenges, the recent cable theft incident has intensified scrutiny on security measures surrounding critical infrastructure. Minister Puente's comments about the act being sabotage underscore the need for enhanced protections against such coordinated attacks.
Renfe, the national train operator, reported that train services began to gradually resume around 9:30 AM on May 5, over 15 hours after the initial disruption. However, by midday, services had not fully returned to normal, leaving many passengers still waiting for updates on their travel plans.
The combination of the power outage and the cable theft has raised alarms about the vulnerability of Spain's transportation and energy systems. As the investigations unfold, both government officials and citizens will be keenly watching for measures that can be implemented to prevent such incidents in the future.
In the wake of these events, the public's confidence in the reliability of essential services is at stake, and the government faces pressure to restore normalcy and ensure the safety of its infrastructure.
