Copper Cable Thieves Disrupt Train Services Across Spain

In a troubling incident, thieves stole copper cables causing significant delays and disruptions in train services between Madrid and several major cities in Andalusia, stranding over 10,000 passengers. Investigations are underway as the country faces a string of similar incidents against a backdrop of recent blackouts affecting the region.

Thousands of passengers in Spain were left stranded or trapped on trains due to the theft of copper cables that halted high-speed services between Madrid and various locations in the southern region of Andalusia. On Monday, Transport Minister Óscar Puente condemned the theft as a "serious act of sabotage" that occurred at five different sites concentrated within a few kilometers of each other along the high-speed rail line.

The disruption comes shortly after both Spain and Portugal experienced a major blackout that similarly immobilized train services, leaving passengers anxious and confused. Over 10,000 travelers were affected, with reports indicating that at least 30 trains were unable to operate on routes connecting Madrid to cities like Seville, Malaga, Valencia, and Granada.

Kevin, a tourist from the United States, expressed his frustration at Madrid's Atocha station, stating, "All of a sudden in the last two weeks - what is going on?" The chaos coincided with a long holiday weekend in Madrid and precedes the week-long Feria festival in Seville, known for drawing significant crowds.

Transport Minister Puente noted that operations were gradually returning to normal after a challenging night for both travelers and staff. He explained that the thefts occurred in areas accessible via forest trails, complicating the immediate response.

The national rail operator Adif reported that services began to restore on Monday afternoon, while the Spanish interior ministry confirmed that they were cooperating with civil guard and police forces to investigate the incident and catch those responsible. As the price of copper continues to rise, train and telecommunications networks across the country have increasingly fallen victim to cable thefts, raising concerns about safety and infrastructure integrity.