Angrois Alvia accident victims divided over driver's pardon

Victims of the Angrois Alvia train accident are divided over a pardon request for the train driver, Francisco Garzón. A judge has suspended his prison sentence while the Spanish government reviews his petition for clemency.

Representatives from victim associations, including APAFAS and the Plataforma Víctimas Alvia 04155, noted that opinions vary significantly among those affected. Some survivors support the pardon, while others, particularly those who lost family members, do not. This lack of consensus prevents the associations from issuing a unified collective stance.

In September, the chief prosecutor for the Santiago area expressed support for a partial pardon based on reasons of justice and equity. Meanwhile, victim advocates continue to highlight systemic safety issues, citing a 2019 audit by the European Union Agency for Railways that identified a lack of risk analysis in railway operations.