Madrid, Spain — More than 10,000 rail passengers faced hours of severe travel disruption on Sunday after a combination of cable theft and a technical fault brought train services between Madrid, Seville, and Toledo to a near halt.
The incident, which coincided with the end of a busy bank holiday weekend, left many travellers stranded for hours, with some arriving at their destinations in the early hours of Monday morning.
Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente condemned the incident as “a serious act of sabotage” and called on the public to assist authorities in identifying those responsible.
The cable theft was first detected around 5:45 pm on Sunday in the province of Toledo, specifically between the municipalities of Mora, Orgaz, and Urda.
The Ministry of Transport later confirmed the damage was concentrated in the area between Los Yébenes and Manzaneque, impacting crucial signalling systems and delaying high-speed and long-distance trains.
The disruption affected over 30 services operated by national railway company Renfe, with many passengers returning from holiday trips. High-speed AVANT services between Madrid and Andalusia, as well as routes to Toledo, were significantly impacted.
Adding to the chaos was a technical fault involving a train operated by Iryo, a private rail firm. Renfe President Álvaro Fernández de Heredia clarified that while the cable theft caused initial delays of up to an hour, the technical issue with the Iryo train had a far more disruptive effect.
A “snag” in the overhead lines caused trains to move at reduced speeds even after the sabotage was identified, worsening congestion and prolonging travel times.
Passengers expressed frustration over the lack of clear communication and contingency plans. Many reported being stuck on trains for hours without food, water, or information. Some travellers said they were “left in the dark” about the situation and criticised Renfe for not arranging alternatives in advance.
The Guardia Civil has launched an investigation into the cable theft, which involved four separate incidents within a 10-kilometre radius. Authorities are examining the possibility that the theft was coordinated and deliberately timed to maximise disruption.
The president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, seized on the event to highlight what she described as a broader infrastructure crisis, linking it to last week’s historic power outage and calling it part of a “daily calamity” facing Spain.
Renfe confirmed that normal services resumed gradually on Monday morning, with trains between Madrid and Andalusia operating again from 9:48 am. Some timetable adjustments remained in effect, with delays of up to one hour while repair works continued.
Minister Puente reiterated the government’s commitment to enhancing rail security and vowed to work closely with law enforcement agencies to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, Renfe’s customer service teams continued to assist affected travellers as the company faced mounting criticism over its handling of the crisis.
Despite partial recovery, the incident raised broader concerns about the resilience of Spain’s high-speed rail network and the adequacy of emergency response protocols during peak travel periods.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members