Spanish engineers warn of talent drain affecting railway safety

Engineers responsible for state infrastructure warned the Spanish government in June about a talent drain that threatens railway safety. According to a letter from the Association of Engineers of Roads, Canals and Ports of the State (Aicape), high-ranking officials expressed concern regarding the degradation of the administration's capacity to manage, conserve, and construct public infrastructure.

Despite the warning sent to the Secretary of State for Public Function in June, officials report they have received no response. This follows a recent railway accident in Urda, which has led the government to state that confidence in the high-speed system is broken.

In a related development, the CGT federal railway sector union (SFF-CGT) has filed a formal complaint requesting an urgent safety examination by the State Safety Agency. The union is calling for increased supervision of Adif and other involved agents, suggesting that circulation could be restricted or suspended if serious operational risks are identified. The union claims it had previously warned the Ministry of Transport and Adif about issues including staff stability, mental workload, and system obsolescence.