EU prosecutors probe possible fraud in Spanish rail upgrades after Urda crash
The investigation follows a high-speed train accident that killed 69 people on the Madrid-Seville line last week.
European Union prosecutors have launched an inquiry into the potential misuse of EU funds intended for improvements to the Madrid-Seville high-speed railway line. According to BBC News, the investigation follows a train crash near the village of Urda on October 28 that resulted in 69 deaths.
The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) conducted investigative measures at the offices of the rail infrastructure authority Adif and the rail safety agency AESF. The probe focuses on funds meant for enhancing signalling, communications, and safety systems on the line.
The accident occurred when a train operated by state-owned Renfe hit a stationary train owned by the private company Iryo. The LZB communication system, which monitors train positions, had failed, and the Renfe train was permitted to travel at normal speed despite the Iryo train being unable to restart.
This is the second EU fraud inquiry into Spanish railways this year, following a January accident at Adamuz on the same line that killed 46 people. The two incidents have resulted in 115 deaths and numerous injuries over nine months.
Following the two accidents, Transport Minister Óscar Puente resigned. His successor, Carlos Cuerpo, has promised to take measures to rebuild public confidence in high-speed rail. On Friday, Cuerpo met with survivors of the Adamuz disaster, who presented 11 demands for railway safety improvements.
A funeral for the 69 victims of the Urda disaster is scheduled for Tuesday at Toledo cathedral.