The Spanish secretary of state for transport and the head of the state rail company Renfe have resigned, after dozens of new trains were too big to fit through some tunnels.
The plan to modernise the rolling stock on narrow-gauge commuter trains and medium-distance trains in Asturias and Cantabria was built under a NZ$390 million contract, but it was revealed in February that the new trains would be too wide to pass through some of the tunnels in the two Spanish regions.
The regional President of Asturias, Adrián Barbón, was 'baffled, angry and disappointed' by the project's failure, while the regional President of Cantabria, Miguel Ángel Revilla, described it as a 'bodge' and called for immediate action.
Two senior officials, one at state rail company Renfe and the other at state rail infrastructure company Adif, were fired in February for their part in the failed project.
Spain's secretary of state for transport, Isabel Pardo de Vera, and the President of Renfe, Isaías Táboas, both resigned on Tuesday (NZT).
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that travel on the Cantabrian and Asturian networks affected by the delays would be free until a new stock of trains come into service in early 2026.
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER.
Stay in the loop on some of the most important things happening at Today FM - whether it be the biggest news stories, host opinions or the latest on what you need to know about happening on air and on our website. Sign up here.
