Spain’s government defends rail investment record after deadly crashes

MADRID - Spain’s transport minister said on Jan 29 his government had ramped up spending in the railway network after years of underinvestment as he faced a grilling from senators over a series of recent train accidents, one of which killed dozens.

A Jan 18

high-speed rail crash in southern Spain killed 45 people

while a derailment two days later in Catalonia killed a train driver, sparking political and public scrutiny of rail safety, maintenance and infrastructure spending.

Mr Oscar Puente, who was heckled by opposition lawmakers shouting “resign” when he walked up to the podium, said maintenance spending per kilometre had risen 66 per cent since 2017 and was now at or above the European average.

France invests slightly more while Italy spends less, he said.

European Commission data and industry experts have questioned whether maintenance investment has kept pace with Spain’s expanding rail network and rising passenger numbers, a view Mr Puente rejected.

According to him, Spain had invested about €30 billion (S$45 billion) less in rail infrastructure between 2010 and 2018 than it would have if pre-financial crisis spending levels had been maintained.

The conservative People’s Party held power from 2011 to 2018, implementing across-the-board spending cuts amid the EU’s push for austerity while Spain faced a severe public debt crisis following a housing bubble bust.  

Total annual rail investment has jumped to around €5 billion in 2025 from roughly €1.7 billion in 2017, said Mr Puente, of the ruling Socialist Party. REUTERS