Cable theft on Madrid-Andalusia AVE line causes 25-minute delays

A cable theft on the Madrid-Andalusia high-speed rail line is causing delays of approximately 25 minutes for trains on the southern corridor. The incident, which occurred between Malagón and Ciudad Real, has disrupted signaling systems, affecting long-distance and medium-distance AVE services operated by Renfe, Iryo, and Ouigo.

The incident

According to Adif's official account, the theft damaged track circuits, leading to signaling failures. Technicians are currently working on repairs Source: ABC; Infobae. This is the second cable theft on this line in ten days; a previous theft on June 24 caused similar disruptions between Urda and Malagón Source: ABC.

Context

Just hours before the June 24 incident, an unrelated fault occurred when a high-voltage cable fell onto the catenary, also affecting traffic Source: ABC. The repeated thefts highlight vulnerabilities in critical rail infrastructure.