Hundreds of railway employees demand extra safety from the Ministry of Transport: “Investment is insufficient” | Economy | EUROtoday

“Safety, first.” That slogan could possibly be learn in enormous letters on the banner that presided over the protest this Tuesday morning in entrance of the Ministry of Transport. Hundreds of railway employees have demonstrated in entrance of the division headed by Óscar Puente to demand extra funding in security and higher upkeep of railway infrastructure. The convening unions have harassed that the system is protected, however that there are flaws to be corrected and that can not be ignored after the deadly accidents in Adamuz (Córdoba) and Gelida (Barcelona).

“We are not facing a problem of railway safety, but of insufficient investment, poor planning and maintenance that does not respond to the real needs of the railway system,” protested the final secretary of the railway sector of CC OO, Pepa Páez, in her speech earlier than the protesters. The union consultant has thought-about that the deadly accidents of latest weeks “have to be a before and after, a turning point.” In Adamuz, 46 folks died, together with a practice driver, and in Gelida one other railway skilled.

Páez added: “They force us to reflect on what is being done wrong and what we must change. We cannot normalize what is not normal: constant incidents, delays, breakdowns, cancellations…”. “We cannot resign ourselves to the railway operating on a patchwork basis. When we lower the level of demand, we come dangerously close to events like those of recent days occurring again,” added the consultant of CC OO. Their union estimates that about 2,000 folks have participated within the protest.

The head of the bulk union of machinists, Semaf, has harassed the identical message. “The railway system is safe, but that does not mean that it cannot improve. As frontline workers we demand these improvements,” commented Diego Martín. He has labeled it as a “historical fact” that every one the unions meet in entrance of the ministry and that the protest is to not demand enhancements in working circumstances, however reasonably for the upkeep of infrastructure.

“We want a change of orientation in all investment in the railway sector. It cannot be that they listen to us now and not before. These types of accidents do not have to happen for the workers’ voices to be heard,” added Martín. Both his union and the others preserve the decision for a strike at Renfe on February 9, 10 and 11.

For her half, the UGT railway consultant, Raquel González, has stated that accidents like these in Adamuz and Gelida “cannot happen again.” “We assume that the railway is one of the safest means that exist, but we need urgent measures to regain the necessary confidence,” added the Ugetista. “We demand that all parties get to work to reach agreements that improve protocols at the state level and the safety conditions of workers,” González claimed. “Training must be increased, reinforced, and it is not just about investing in new infrastructure. Maintenance must be given the importance it requires,” the union chief insisted.

The Railway Union, CGT and the Railway Circulation Union have additionally participated within the demonstration. Professionals from throughout Spain have attended, with a particular presence from Catalonia.

Spending debate

Óscar Puente has opened as much as having a debate on the rising have to dedicate spending to a high-speed community that provides years in its corridors with the very best visitors (Madrid-Sur, Madrid-Barcelona and Madrid-Levante), stories Javier Fernández Magariño. Transport maintains that in 2011 759 million (with out VAT) have been allotted to upkeep, dropping to a minimal degree of 721 million in 2017. From that time, there’s a robust development to 1,120 million euros in 2025. The budgetary effort has elevated, however so have inflation, kilometers of monitor and its use.

In 2015 the Valladolid-Palencia-León line got here into operation; Madrid-Galicia was accomplished in 2021; excessive velocity arrived in Murcia in 2022; A yr later, the Pajares variant on the high-speed line to Asturias got here into operation, and the Extremaduran cities of Plasencia and Badajoz have been related by an electrified line since December 2023. Minister Puente factors out in favor of Adif that the Spanish upkeep mannequin has gained in effectivity in comparison with that of different comparable international locations.