Spain will allocate 20 million euros ($24 million) in compensation to victims of last week’s high-speed train derailment that killed 45 people and injured more than 150, Transport Minister Óscar
Puente announced on Tuesday.
The crash occurred on January 18 near Adamuz, close to the southern city of Córdoba, and has shaken the country. It ranks among the deadliest train disasters in recent European history and is Spain’s worst rail accident since 2013.
Under the compensation plan, the families of those who lost their lives will each receive 216,000 euros within three months. The amount includes 72,000 euros in tax-exempt government aid, a 72,000-euro advance from insurance providers, and an additional 72,000 euros from mandatory passenger travel insurance.
“We know that ordinary administrative procedures and legal timelines do not always respond to the urgency of a tragedy like this,” Puente said. “Victims cannot wait years for help. Economic uncertainty should not add to emotional pain.”
Passengers who were injured in the crash will receive compensation ranging from 2,400 euros to 84,000 euros, depending on the severity of their injuries, the minister said.
The announcement comes amid growing political and public pressure on Puente following a turbulent week for Spain’s rail network. In addition to the Adamuz disaster, a train driver died in Catalonia, and two other rail incidents occurred without fatalities. The opposition People’s Party has called for Puente’s resignation, citing broader safety concerns.
Responding to questions about his position, Puente said he had “a calm conscience,” insisting he had carried out his duties responsibly and maintained transparency with the public.
Rail services in Catalonia have also faced major disruption. Thousands of commuters were left stranded last week after drivers on the Rodalies commuter network refused to work over safety concerns. The situation worsened on Monday when a software failure shut down the region’s train traffic control centre, bringing services to a standstill.
As investigations into the Adamuz crash continue, the government’s swift compensation pledge appears aimed at easing immediate hardship while scrutiny of Spain’s rail safety intensifies. Photo by Junta de Andalucía, Wikimedia commons.