TRAIN DELAYS AND CANCELLATIONS IN SPAIN AFFECT 10,000 PASSENGERS AFTER CABLE THEFT

TOLEDO, SPAIN • A widespread cable theft across various locations in Toledo province has caused severe disruptions to high-speed rail services between Madrid and Seville, impacting over 10,700 passengers and at least 30 trains. Spain's Transport Minister Óscar Puente described the incident as a "serious act of sabotage."

Toledo, Spain, May 5, 2025 – 10:33 AM CEST – The theft of cables in various parts of Toledo province caused a severe disruption to high-speed rail service between Madrid and Seville on Sunday, affecting over 10,700 passengers and at least thirty trains.

Spain's Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, called the incident "a grave act of sabotage" and asked for public cooperation to identify those responsible. The President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, denounced a "daily calamity" in reference to the transportation problems.

The theft, detected around 5:45 PM, was initially localized between the municipalities of Mora, Orgaz, and Urda. Subsequently, the Ministry of Transport confirmed that the damage was concentrated in Los Yébenes and Manzaneque, impacting the railway line's signaling systems and causing significant delays for long-distance, high-speed, and Avant trains.

Renfe President Álvaro Fernández de Heredia stated that the last ten affected trains were able to resume service at 2:30 AM on Monday, although repair work continued overnight. The Civil Guard is investigating the incident, which involved four different locations within a ten-kilometer radius.

Passengers criticized the lack of alternative transport arrangements before they boarded the trains, which left them trapped in carriages for hours. They also complained about the shortage of food supplies.

Another Incident Complicated the Situation

In addition to the cable theft, Fernández de Heredia noted that a "break" in the overhead line caused by an Iryo train exacerbated the complications. He explained that this second incident temporarily halted traffic just as trains had resumed operating at low speeds after the sabotage.

The management responded to criticisms on social media, clarifying that the limited circulation due to the cable theft had predicted delays of up to 60 minutes, but not the total interruption that ultimately occurred due to the Iryo train's technical issue.

Throughout Monday morning, high-speed services between Madrid and Seville and between Madrid and Toledo experienced schedule changes, with delays of up to an hour on some routes to facilitate repair work.

Meanwhile, passengers returning from the long May 1st holiday weekend experienced a day of chaos and frustration due to delays and cancellations.

The Ministry of Transport reiterated its commitment to working closely with security forces to shed light on the incident and prevent similar occurrences in the future.