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Fresh concerns over Adamuz rail safety after defects and missing track records revealed
New findings raise further questions about maintenance and oversight before and after deadly crash
New details continue to emerge following the fatal train crash near Córdoba on January 18, which claimed 46 lives and left more than a hundred injured.Earlier this week, investigators revealed that warning signs may have been detected nearly a day before the derailment, but no alert was triggered.
Now, the Guardia Civil has uncovered further concerns linked to the condition and management of the track in the months leading up to the tragedy.
According to the latest report submitted to the judge in Montoro, a total of 46 “defects” were identified on the stretch of track near Adamuz during inspections carried out by Adif throughout 2025. These included surface issues such as pitting and irregularities in the rail, as well as defects linked to welds.
The inspections, which took place across several periods including April to July and again between October and December, were part of routine monitoring. The Guardia Civil notes that visual checks are designed to “detect surface anomalies before carrying out in-depth technical checks”, with the affected defects located between kilometre points 316 and 319, close to where the derailment later occurred.
Among the findings were multiple surface faults on the railhead, including some just metres from the eventual crash site. Despite being logged and monitored, these defects were still awaiting further verification at the time of the accident.
Investigators maintain that the primary line of inquiry remains a break in the rail or a failure in the weld. However, they stress that it is still not possible “to determine whether the rail break caused the weld break or vice versa”, with further technical analysis ongoing.
Track removed without prior judicial approval
Alongside concerns about pre-existing defects, the investigation has also highlighted actions taken after the crash that have drawn criticism from the court.
Internal emails reveal that Adif removed a 36-metre section of rail from the affected section in early March, after it emerged that the section of rail could not be traced in manufacturing or installation records. The companies involved warned that they could not confirm its certification and advised that it should be replaced as a precaution.
One communication stated clearly that the rail in question was “never” listed in delivery records, while another stressed that “the rail must be removed from the track” urgently due to the traceability issue.
Adif informed the investigating judge of its intention on March 2 and carried out the replacement on March 4. However, this was done without waiting for formal judicial authorisation, prompting a response from the court. The judge subsequently ordered that no further work affecting the track should take place without 15 days’ notice and prior approval.
This was not the first time material had been removed from the site. Track fragments and up to 18 welds were taken away just days after the accident without the knowledge of investigators, leading to warnings of potential “criminal liability.”
As the investigation continues, these latest findings are adding to growing concerns over both the condition of the infrastructure and the handling of key evidence, while families of the victims continue to push for clear answers.
Image: wikicommons
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