Overview
- Montoro’s court authorized Adif to start reconstructing the shattered track at km 318 under emergency contracting, with the government targeting about 10 days to restore full Madrid–Seville high‑speed service subject to conditions such as weather.
- The CIAF holds custody of key evidence, including onboard camera recordings and rail fragments, after prosecutors asked that the data extraction be carried out in the Montoro court rather than in Madrid.
- Investigators’ working hypothesis centers on a failed rail weld at PK 318.681 installed by Maquisaba and previously inspected by Ayesa, with specialized metallurgical tests being arranged before any final conclusions.
- The Guardia Civil’s criminal investigation runs in parallel and has delivered an initial report cataloging thousands of images, evidence from both trains and the track, and witness statements, which will be complemented by CIAF’s technical findings.
- Political pressure escalated as Transport Minister Óscar Puente defended the government’s handling and “maximum transparency” in the Senate, the PP said it will seek a Senate inquiry into the railway crisis, and a Huelva funeral for victims drew the King and Queen.