Deadly train crashes hit Spain’s high-speed rail network

Two deadly train accidents in Spain this year have driven passengers away from the country’s high-speed rail network, raising concerns about the impact on tourism and business travel.

The world’s second-largest high-speed rail network has seen a significant decline in passenger numbers following the accidents, with experts and business groups warning that public confidence in rail travel is weakening.

The latest accident occurred on October 28, when a train collision killed 69 people and forced the closure of the Madrid-Andalusia high-speed line for the second time in nine months. The route normally serves nearly 19,000 passengers daily and remains closed.

According to data from Spain’s competition watchdog, CNMC, long-distance high-speed rail passenger numbers fell 15% in January-June to 18.7 million following a collision near Adamuz in southern Spain in January that killed 46 people.

Many affected passengers switched to rental cars and domestic flights. Reuters calculations suggest the decline was almost six times the impact normally expected from a 30-day closure of the affected line.

Experts fear the latest accident could further damage Spain’s reputation as a safe travel destination. The country is the world’s second-most visited after France.

“All accidents are serious, but when you have two within just nine months … you have a strong impact on reputation,” said Juan Pedro Aznar, a researcher at Esade business school.

He said restoring public confidence would require making technical improvements a political priority.

Carlos Garrido, head of tourism industry group Mesa del Turismo, urged authorities to introduce a comprehensive infrastructure and maintenance plan.

The impact is already being felt among travellers. Canadian tourist Isobel Hamilton, 50, said she and her husband changed their travel plans following the latest crash and decided to use buses instead of trains when travelling outside Madrid.

She said concerns about rail safety would have influenced their decision even if services had returned to normal.

The Spanish government this week approved a decree introducing measures to strengthen rail safety and improve social protections for train drivers and control room staff. The country’s main train drivers’ union described the measures as the first genuine step towards improving security.

Andalusia counts the economic cost

The disruption has also affected businesses and tourism-dependent regions, particularly Andalusia in southern Spain.

The Chamber of Commerce in Seville estimates that additional air, bus and car services are covering only 60% of the suspended train traffic.

The region is losing nearly €1.5 million ($1.7 million) daily, according to the chamber.

Last-minute flight bookings have increased by as much as 61% so far in November, an industry source said.

Demand for carpooling has also surged, while travellers are increasingly turning to rental cars and buses instead of the slower train services still operating along the southern route.

Despite the disruption, some industry experts believe confidence in Spain’s rail network can eventually recover.

“In the long run, we’ll end up regaining confidence in train services, as long as there isn’t another accident,” said Marc Selgas, a professor at St. Pol Hospitality & Culinary Business School in Barcelona.

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