Óscar Puente defends Renfe against blame for train delays

Spain’s Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, has defended the state-owned railway company, Renfe, against the tendency to blame it for all service delays and stoppages. Speaking to RNE, Puente used strong language to argue that many operational incidents are caused by external factors rather than the railway infrastructure or service itself.

He cited several recent examples of external disruptions, including a severe storm in Catalonia that caused a catenary to fall, halting high-speed traffic between Madrid and Barcelona. He also noted a gas leak in Fuencarral, Madrid, caused by third-party construction work near a railway workshop, which necessitated a service halt.

Puente emphasized that the railway system is highly sensitive to environmental changes compared to road networks, meaning external alterations can immediately impact daily operations. He expressed frustration with the systematic political and media criticism directed at Renfe for incidents that are often beyond its control.