Spain considers two-year closure of Madrid-Barcelona high-speed rail line

The Spanish Ministry of Transport is evaluating the possibility of a complete two-year closure of the high-speed rail line connecting Madrid and Barcelona to facilitate a total infrastructure renovation. Transport Minister Óscar Puente stated that while no final decision has been made, the government is considering the German model of full line closures to ensure safety and modernization.

The renovation project aims to reduce travel times between the two cities to under two hours. Key upgrades include replacing current tracks with aerotravesas to allow speeds of up to 350 km/h, upgrading the ERTMS signaling system from level 1 to level 2, and constructing new stations. This proposal follows recent rail accidents in the Andalusian corridor, specifically in Adamuz and Urda.

In Catalonia, President Salvador Illa expressed a preference for investment methods that minimize service disruptions. Meanwhile, the People's Party (PP) in Lleida has demanded institutional explanations, warning that uncertainty regarding this strategic infrastructure could negatively impact the region's socio-economic fabric.