Railway crisis: Our lives first!
The tragedies in Adamuz and Gelida, We are shocked and saddened by the victims and their families.. further, have brought to the fore the serious problems of the railway system. The broadest mobilization and firm demands are needed, for a thorough investigation. Immediate and background measures are necessary to guarantee a secure network for workers and users.
Tragedia in Adanuzus (Córdoba)
On Sunday 18 from January, Two high-speed trains collided after a derailment on a straight section of track near Adamuz (Córdoba). An Iryo train (Malaga-Madrid) derailed and part of its carriages invaded the adjacent track, where an Alvia train that was traveling in the opposite direction at high speed collided head on.. To date, at least 42 Dead people, among them Pablo B., young driver of the Alvia train and more 150 wounded, some in serious condition, while the search and lifting of wagons continue to locate remains. Today there is no officially confirmed cause and the investigation is ongoing.. With all hypotheses open, Wear has already been reported in track welds on railway sections and that there were previous warnings from the machinists' union Semaf about the conditions of the infrastructure in the area..
Fatal accident in Gelida (Barcelona)
The night of 20 from January, in full storm, with heavy rains and winds in Catalonia, A Rodalies train on line R4 derailed between Gelida and Sant Sadurní d’Anoia (Barcelona) after colliding with a retaining wall that had collapsed on the tracks. As a result of the accident, Fernando Huerta passed away, the young train driver who was doing the internship, and were injured at least 41 people of whom 4 They are in serious condition. In this case, heavy rainfall damaged the structure, that collapsed on the track minutes before the train passed. Government authorities and Renfe link this accident directly to meteorological causes, no to internal service failures.
Clarify causes and responsibilities
Both tragedies have generated sadness and a great social impact., We all regularly use trains and we could have been one of the fatal victims. Our most sincere condolences to the families of the deceased workers and users. At this time, emergency tasks are the priority, as well as the immediate exhaustive review of all roads section by section, of signage, of the status of the trains and the entire system; so that the authorities guarantee completely safe operation.
Railway deterioration, norm not anomaly
The deterioration of the railway network is the result of decades of systematic disinvestment in conventional lines, suburban (Rodalies) and apparently, also with serious anomalies in high speed ones. Although the incidents are permanent, They are never resolved and now they also take lives. It is a fact that the railway service has become precarious when public transport, efficient, cheap and safe, should be an investment priority, for the good of its workers and users. Public transportation is also a right, It can be neither a capitalist commodity nor a negligent service. The central and regional governments fight over management of the railway networks, but they distance themselves from their responsibilities to manage it.
Immediate measures
The paralysis of services has generated chaos in transportation, That is why it must be accompanied by guaranteeing users the necessary means so that they can travel., fulfill your obligations safely and with the least possible inconvenience. And of course, A thorough and independent investigation is required into the causes of the accident and those responsible for it, that there are always some even if they try to escape, as happened with the DANA in Valencia. We demand an investigation that is not controlled by the same people who manage the responsible companies.. The state, Minister Óscar Puente, Pedro Sánchez and the employers cannot wash their hands, They have to be strictly investigated for what happened and their role in the deterioration of rail transport.
Solidarity with the railway strike and substantive measures
The machinists' union (SEMAF) called to paralyze trains in protest for the safety of the railway network. The measure is more than justified, Workers are forced to operate under conditions of extreme stress, with poor materials and under constant pressure to meet impossible schedules in a collapsed network. On the other hand, The working class that uses the train to go to work is condemned to undignified trips, insecure and, now, life threatening. We must support the workers' strike and promote popular mobilizations both for the clarification of the facts and for urgent and effective security measures..
Our lives are worth more than everything. To prevent more tragedies, fundamental solutions are needed, that will not arrive even with patches, nor with empty ministerial promises. A single railway system is needed, 100% state and public, without subcontracting and hidden privatization. Those who operate the trains and those who travel on them are the only ones interested in absolute safety, That is why control of the service by those who operate and use it is necessary., that is to say, workers and users, who also have to audit investments and guarantee that every euro goes to safety, efficiency and better working conditions. It is necessary to specify actions so that there is a massive investment plan.
