Moreno seeks full Madrid-Andalusia rail audit after new faults

Andalusian president Juanma Moreno called on Thursday for a full audit of the Madrid-Andalusia high-speed rail line. His demand follows the discovery of new track faults near Adamuz.

The faults emerged in the court inquiry into the crash of 18 January. That disaster killed 46 people and injured more than 120.

Experts seek missing records

Three court experts have asked the judge in Montoro to order Adif to hand over more files. They want track inspection reports from before and after the crash.

The experts only have test results from October 2025. Those checks came before Adif accepted work on the track on 19 December, just 30 days before the crash.

They also want the full file for emergency work carried out after the disaster. The experts said they have no papers for that rebuilding job. Their request also covers plans, quality checks and tests on stone used beneath the rails.

Adif has asked the court to approve more work between kilometre points 316+900 and 317+500. It wants to adjust the track at switches 631 and 632 and on a side line.

The experts found at least three deformed points there. Two have reached the intervention limit, while one is at alert level. The higher level is close to safety limits and often leads to a short-term speed limit.

The team said the proposed repairs would not harm its work on the crash. It did not oppose them, but the judge must still give permission.

Questions over recent work

The experts said the new faults look much like the one near the rail break linked to the crash. They also noted that the switches were part of the same renewal project.

Adif accepted that work in December 2025, and it is still under a two-year guarantee. The experts want to know what checks took place while the job was under way.

In an earlier report, they linked the break to a lengthwise dip in the rail. Adif had known of that defect since at least October 2025, they said. The dip measured minus 6.4 millimetres and had been placed at the lower alert level.

A past court order told Adif to give 15 days' notice before work on this stretch. It also made any work subject to the judge's approval.

Junta calls for wider checks

Moreno said the whole route needs a close review so people can trust it again. He said he would not use the AVE until that check was complete.

He also said the Adamuz crash should have led Óscar Puente to resign at once. Puente later left the Transport Ministry.

Junta spokeswoman Carolina España said the national government must give the strongest safety guarantees. She also said the Madrid-Andalusia route is Spain's only line still using the old safety system.

The court has not yet ruled on Adif's latest request. The audit sought by the Junta has also not been announced by the national government.

Sources: Andalucía Información, Diario de Cádiz, Europa Press and El Mundo.