06.11.2026 17:21
Following the train disaster in Spain that killed 69 people, the European Public Prosecutor's Office took action. An investigation was launched on suspicion that European Union funds allocated to increase the safety of the Madrid-Sevilla high-speed rail line had been embezzled. While it was stated that the automatic train control system was disabled in the accident, the fate of the money transferred to the railway infrastructure was also taken under examination.
A new development has occurred regarding the train accident in Spain on October 28 that resulted in the deaths of 69 people. The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) has launched an investigation over suspicions that EU funds provided for railway safety may have been misused.
FUND INVESTIGATION INTO THE DISASTER THAT KILLED 69 PEOPLE
The European Public Prosecutor's Office, operating within the European Union, has taken under examination the financial resources transferred to the Madrid-Seville route, one of Spain's busiest high-speed passenger rail lines. At the center of the investigation is the suspicion that EU funds allocated to strengthen railway safety may have been embezzled. The prosecutor's office is investigating the use of resources provided especially for the improvement of safety measures, signaling systems and communication infrastructure on the train line. The launched examination aims to uncover whether the funds were actually spent on the designated projects. However, the opening of the investigation does not mean that it has been definitively established that the money was embezzled.
SPANISH AUTHORITIES ALSO PURSUING EVIDENCE
In a statement made by the European Public Prosecutor's Office, it was stated that Spanish authorities are also collecting evidence within the scope of the investigation. The country's railway operator, railway safety agency and the Spanish Court of Audit were among the institutions conducting the examination. Authorities scrutinized records regarding European Union resources allocated to increase the safety of the Madrid-Seville line. The investigation in question also drew attention because it is the second investigation launched by the European Public Prosecutor's Office regarding EU funds provided to the same high-speed rail line.
TRAIN'S CONTROL SYSTEM WAS DISABLED
The train accident that shook Spain occurred south of Madrid on October 28. As a result of the collision of two trains, 69 people lost their lives. In the initial investigations conducted after the accident, it was determined that the automatic train control system was disabled. It was also stated that an employee working at the control center gave incorrect instructions to the drivers after the malfunction. These findings led to an investigation into whether technical malfunctions and human errors were effective in the occurrence of the accident. However, no definitive finding was announced establishing a direct link between the suspicion of embezzlement regarding EU funds and the cause of the accident.
SECOND DISASTER ON THE SAME LINE: 115 LIVES LOST IN TOTAL
The disaster in Spain on October 28 was not the first fatal train accident of the year. In January, another collision involving trains belonging to the same two companies occurred on the Madrid-Seville line. In that accident, 46 people lost their lives. Thus, a total of 115 people lost their lives in two separate train accidents that occurred on the same line during the year.