Spain’s rail head resigns over bungled prepare orders leading to trains too large for tunnels

The pinnacle of Spain’s state rail operator Renfe has resigned following outcry over an order of commuter trains too large to suit by means of some tunnels.

The error has precipitated an uproar in Spain because it was first revealed within the media in early February, with the nation anticipated to go the polls on the finish of the 12 months.

Isaias Taboas, who has headed Renfe since June 2018, submitted his resignation on Monday, an organization spokeswoman informed AFP.

Spain’s secretary of state for transport, Isabel Pardo de Vera, who used to go state rail infrastructure operator Adif, additionally stepped down on Monday over the scandal, the transport ministry mentioned.

Renfe in June 2020 ordered 31 commuter trains price 258 million euros ($402 million) from Spanish agency CAF for the mountainous northern areas of Asturias and Cantabria.

However in March 2021, CAF realised the size it was offered for the trains weren’t appropriate and stopped constructing the trains, which might have been too large for some tunnels.

Constructed within the nineteenth century, the rail community in northern Spain crosses a mountainous panorama and it has various tunnel sizes that don’t adhere to plain trendy dimensions.

Error leads to trains supply delayed till 2026

The pinnacle of the regional authorities of Cantabria, Miguel Angel Revilla, had referred to as it a “monumentally botched job” and demanded that heads roll over the affair.

Each Spain’s central authorities and Renfe have repeatedly mentioned the error was noticed early on and no cash has been wasted.

Renfe has pressured that there was “by no means any danger” that the 31 trains would have been constructed since CAF was obligated by its contract to confirm the size earlier than beginning building.

Nonetheless, the error means the trains will solely be delivered in 2026 as a substitute of 2024 as initially deliberate, Renfe mentioned.

Talking to reporters on Monday after the announcement of the resignations, Mr Revilla demanded “compensation” for his area.

Adif and Renfe have opened a joint investigation to find out how the error occurred.

Spain’s transport ministry had already earlier this month fired two senior rail officers over the affair — a Renfe supervisor and Adif’s head of observe expertise.

AFP