Overview
- Spain’s transport minister Óscar Puente said he is unaware of any rail system worldwide that uses seat belts and questioned that they would better protect passengers.
- The European Union Agency for Railways and the International Union of Railways do not include passenger belts in their safety requirements, and Directive (EU) 2016/798 contains no mandate.
- Renfe and cited experts warn belts can cause serious injuries in prolonged decelerations or lateral impacts and can trap passengers during evacuations after derailments or fires.
- Train interiors are engineered to absorb crash energy and preserve a passenger’s survival space rather than rely on individual restraints, according to industry guidance.
- The high‑speed collision near Adamuz left at least 40 dead and more than 150 injured, investigations continue, and there has been no move to require seat belts on Spanish trains.