Thousands of Spanish rail passengers have been delayed after copper cables used for signalling on the high-speed line between Madrid and Seville were stolen at five different locations, authorities said.
The incident, which happened late on Sunday, affected dozens of trains running between Madrid and the southern Andalusian cities of Seville, Malaga and Granada, as many people returned to the Spanish capital after the holiday weekend.
Copper prices on the world market remain high, allowing criminals to make significant amounts of money from the sale of this material.
Transport Minister Oscar Puente said he expected train services to return to normal by 4 p.m. local time.
Passengers flocked to Madrid's Atocha station on Monday, seeking information about their trains from train workers and screens with updated departure times.
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, who came to Spain from Mexico, expressed frustration at the lack of information.
“We are here with tourists from different countries – France, Portugal,” Mr. Valero said. “Everyone is confused and does not know what to do, as a result of total chaos.”
The theft of cables occurred at five points on the high-speed line in Toledo, Mr. Puente said on his X show, adding that the Spanish National Police was investigating the incident.
Spain's high-speed rail network is expanding rapidly, passing through large tracts of the country's sparsely populated countryside.
The incident comes just a week after power outages in Spain and Portugal halted high-speed train services in Spain and left many passengers stranded for hours.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
