Thousands of rail passengers in Spain have been delayed after copper cables used in signalling on the high-speed line between Madrid and Seville were stolen in five locations, authorities said.
The theft, which happened late on Sunday, affected many trains running between Madrid and the southern Andalusian cities of Seville, Malaga and Granada, as many people were returning home to the Spanish capital after a holiday weekend.
The price of copper on international markets is quite high, which allows criminals to receive significant sums for selling this material.
Transport Minister Oscar Puente said in a statement that he expects the rail line to fully resume its normal schedule by 4 p.m. local time.
Passengers flocked to Madrid's Atocha station on Monday to get information about their trains from train staff and see updated departure times on screens.
By 9am, Alberto Valero and his family had been stuck at the station for hours due to delays on trains to Seville, where they were headed. Mr Valero, on holiday in Spain from Mexico, expressed frustration at the lack of information.
“We are here with tourists from different countries – from France, Portugal,” Mr Valero said. “Everyone is confused, not knowing what to do, because of the total chaos.”
The cable theft occurred at five locations on the high-speed line in Toledo, central Spain, Mr. Puente told X TV, adding that Spain's national police were investigating the incident.
Spain's high-speed rail network is expanding rapidly to cover large swathes of the country's sparsely populated countryside.
The incident comes a week after power cuts in Spain and Portugal halted high-speed train services in Spain and left many passengers stranded for hours.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
