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High-speed rail services between Madrid and Andalucía could resume within days, following confirmation that reconstruction work can finally begin on the section of track damaged in the deadly Adamuz train crash.

 

Transport Minister Óscar Puente announced that Adif has now received judicial authorisation to start replacing the affected infrastructure. In a message shared on X, he said, “Today we received judicial authorisation to proceed with replacing the infrastructure on the section where the Adamuz accident occurred. Our goal is to have it completed within approximately ten calendar days. After the replacement, service will resume on the entire Madrid-Seville line.”

 

That approval removes the final legal obstacle that had been holding up repairs. Initial projections had pointed to a possible reopening on Monday February 2, but Puente had already warned that work could not begin without clearance from the courts. With authorisation now granted, the expectation is that services could restart around Friday February 6, after an interruption of roughly three weeks.

 

Once repairs are completed, high-speed trains operated by Renfe, Iryo and Ouigo are expected to return to the full Madrid-Seville route. In the meantime, Renfe has continued to run limited services, using replacement bus transport on the affected stretch of line for passengers whose journeys were considered essential.

 

The announcement marks an important step forward following the devastating derailment near Adamuz in Córdoba province, which shocked communities across Spain. The crash, which occurred on January 18, claimed 45 lives and left hundreds injured, triggering a major emergency response and a nationwide outpouring of support.

 

As the days passed, rescue teams continued their work and families were supported by local and national authorities. The death toll later rose as searches concluded and victims were formally identified, deepening the impact of one of Spain’s worst rail disasters in recent years.

 

While the investigation into the causes of the crash remains ongoing, the focus for now has shifted to restoring this vital transport corridor. The Madrid-Andalucía high-speed line is one of the country’s busiest routes, particularly important for long-distance travel and regional connections.

 

 

Image: wikicommons