European Public Prosecutor's Office opens fraud probe into high-speed rail works after deadly Urda crash

In brief

• The European Public Prosecutor's Office has opened a fraud inquiry into EU-funded renovation work on the Madrid–Seville high-speed line.
• The probe followed a collision near Urda that killed 69 people.
• Investigators are examining signalling, safety and communications work on the line, and officers are carrying out steps at ADIF, AESF and the Court of Audit.

EU prosecutors open investigation

The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) has begun an inquiry into possible fraud involving European Union money spent on renovating and upgrading the Madrid–Seville high-speed line. The office acted on its own initiative after the crash near Urda, in the province of Toledo, which left 69 people dead (La Fiscalía Europea investiga un presunto fraude en las obras de la alta velocidad tras el accidente de Urda – EL PAÍS) (Zugunglück in Spanien: EU ermittelt wegen Veruntreuung nach Zugunglück in Spanien – ZEIT ONLINE).

What investigators are examining

The probe covers renovation and safety work, including signalling and communications systems on the line. Investigators are looking into whether funds meant for these projects were diverted or misused.

Agencies under scrutiny

EPPO officers are carrying out investigative steps in Madrid at the rail infrastructure administration ADIF, the state rail safety agency AESF, and Spain's Court of Audit, the national public audit body, according to the office's statement (Po dešimtis gyvybių nusinešusios traukinių avarijos Ispanijoje – ES tyrimas dėl galimo sukčiavimo – Diena.lt) (Po mirtinos traukinių avarijos Ispanijoje – ES tyrimas dėl galimo sukčiavimo – LRT).

Background to the crash

The collision took place on 28 October 2026 near Urda. Rescue teams were working among the wrecked carriages in the days after the crash (Catastrophe ferroviaire en Espagne : le parquet européen ouvre une enquête quant à d’éventuelles fraudes sur la ligne accidentée à Urda – Le Monde).

What comes next

The investigation is at an early stage, and no charges have been announced. Further steps will depend on what the inquiry finds about how EU money on the line was spent.

Read also

• Urda rail crash: what the controller audio and signalling logs show, and what remains open