ZAMORA – For generations, Spaniards have embraced the country’s celebrated high-speed rail network, regularly choosing the Ave—Spanish for “bird”—instead of cars or planes for business journeys and vacations.
That confidence has been badly shaken after two deadly train crashes in the space of nine months claimed more than 100 lives and raised fresh questions about a railway system long associated with speed and safety.
Two days after a collision in central Spain left 69 people dead, the country was still absorbing images of mangled train cars and injured survivors. An Associated Press journalist spoke with passengers who nevertheless chose to continue traveling by rail.
“I need to travel for work, so I’m taking the train because I don’t have another choice,” said Carla Fuentes, a 37-year-old economist, before departing Madrid for Alicante in southern Spain. “But some of my colleagues are driving and say they won’t board another train until there are meaningful changes.”
Her Thursday service was later canceled as rail workers went on strike, calling for stronger safety measures across the network.
“It’s understandable,” Fuentes said of the walkout. “So many people died, and there is a great deal of anger.”
The tragedy remained in passengers’ minds on Friday as they boarded the Madrid-to-Zamora train. Still, most appeared prepared to accept the risks of traveling at speeds approaching 300 kph (186 mph).
After a 50-minute wait, the train finally departed. Over the public-address system, the conductor thanked the passengers who had chosen to remain loyal to the Ave.
“I can only thank you for your patience and admire your decision to continue traveling by train at a time like this,” he said.
Authorities admit trust in the railways is shattered
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who is facing an election in four weeks, acknowledged the scale of the challenge during a Friday visit to the crash site. He said authorities would have to work to rebuild faith in Spain’s rail service.
“Confidence in our high-speed railway has been broken,” Sánchez said. “This government must determine not only what went wrong, but also what solutions are needed to ensure a tragedy of this scale never happens again.”
The Toledo province crash occurred only nine months after a separate collision farther south on the Madrid-Seville route. That incident killed 49 people when one train derailed and hit another traveling in the opposite direction.
“I’ve used high-speed trains for many years, but my confidence has been damaged,” said María Rodríguez, 56, while traveling to Zamora. “Two crashes in a year, with so many deaths, is a serious matter.”
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Suit Claims Ford CEO’s Wife Was Booted From Golf Club for Men
The train rules in Spain
High-speed rail has reshaped travel across Spain, dramatically shortening journeys from Madrid to major cities, including destinations along the country’s coast.
Spain began operating its first high-speed route in 1992 and has since built 3,900 kilometers (2,400 miles) of high-speed track for a population of 49 million. Only China has a larger network, with 45,000 kilometers (28,000 miles) serving 1.4 billion people, according to the International Union of Railways, which classifies trains traveling above 250 kph (155 mph) as high-speed services.
For both work and leisure, high-speed rail has become Spain’s preferred way to travel.
Of the 13 million journeys between Madrid and Barcelona in 2024, nine million were made by high-speed train, figures from Spain’s National Markets and Competition Commission show. Rail demand has continued to climb, with high-speed passenger numbers doubling between 2019 and 2025.
Before high-speed service, the 600-kilometer (385-mile) trip from Madrid to Barcelona took roughly seven hours on older trains, prompting many business travelers to fly. Today, the same journey can be completed in about 2 ½ hours.
Shorter travel times have made day trips between many Spanish cities possible.
But Spain’s enormous investment in building high-speed rail has come at the expense of slower commuter services, while train workers’ unions argue that the administration has not spent enough on maintaining the network.
Adrián Blaya, a 29-year-old data analyst traveling on the Zamora-Madrid line, echoed the common complaint that the service has worsened in recent years with delays and breakdowns becoming habitual.
Ironically, he felt safer than usual following the deadly crash.
“The safest time to travel in Ave is after a tragedy because this is when they are extra careful,” he said. “Today I feel safer traveling because I know they will be focused.”
___
Wilson reported from Barcelona, Spain.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.