A significant disruption has occurred in the high-speed rail network connecting Madrid and Seville, with more than 16,000 passengers affected by delays.

The line was reopened fully around 9:30 AM on Monday after technicians from ADIF replaced 150 meters of security cable, which had been stolen from five locations along a 12-kilometer stretch in the province of Toledo.

The theft occurred on Sunday, leading to three hours of operational losses for various operators, including Renfe, Iryo, and Ouigo, compounding delays for travelers.

Once the service was restored, Renfe began to reallocate travelers to double-decker trains, significantly increasing available seating capacity.

Reports of crowded stations have been prevalent, especially in major hubs of the southern corridor.

During the disruption, Renfe reported operating 29 trains in both directions between Madrid and Seville, with some services experiencing delays of over four hours, while most delays measured around 120 minutes.

By 5:00 PM, normal service was reported to be reestablished according to the public company.

The incidents also significantly impacted the schedules of Iryo and Ouigo, leading to extended travel times and passenger inconvenience.

Transport Minister Óscar Puente characterized the theft as deliberate sabotage, stating, "This is a rather coordinated act.

Whoever did it knew what they were doing." He emphasized the necessity for enhanced security measures concerning railway infrastructure, including the potential installation of surveillance cameras along the 4,000 kilometers of high-speed rail lines that currently lack them.

Options for increased collaboration between law enforcement and private security firms contracted by ADIF are also being considered.

Authorities have not ruled out any scenarios, including common criminal behavior; however, Minister Puente pointed to the logistics involved and the low monetary value of the stolen materials, estimated at around 300 euros, as indications of a more calculated intent to disrupt rail operations.

The incident had already caused considerable issues on Sunday, particularly affecting evening trains that delayed arrivals until the early hours of Monday.

Renfe's president, Álvaro Fernández Heredia, noted that over 10,000 passengers were impacted by cancellations and delays across 30 trains during the latter part of Sunday.

Over 6,000 passengers faced delays again on Monday morning.

At 6:00 AM on Monday, 16 trains were still experiencing the consequences of the cable theft.

Access to the Madrid Atocha station was restricted until 8:25 AM for travelers heading to Barcelona, Toledo, Ciudad Real, and Puertollano.

By 9:30 AM, services had resumed from the Seville Santa Justa station, while the first high-speed train left from Madrid's Puerta de Atocha to Málaga shortly thereafter.

This disruption on one of Spain's key rail lines has prompted political responses, particularly from Regional President Isabel Díaz Ayuso of Madrid, who criticized the government's handling of both this incident and a previous widespread rail network outage.

Ayuso stated, "Everything directly managed by the government is chaos and getting worse," adding that while no one supports sabotage, the government's failures contributed to the situation.

The People's Party (PP) has called for Minister Puente to appear before Congress and has demanded a full audit of railway infrastructure.

Budget carrier Ouigo advised passengers to monitor their emails for updates regarding rescheduled timings and potential compensation tied to delays.

Some trains operated by Ouigo were reportedly halted for up to nine hours, with one passenger expressing frustration over the lack of provisions during a prolonged wait.

The Transport Minister maintained that the cable theft is a serious act of sabotage, detailing multiple thefts across different locations along a 10-kilometer radius within the affected area.

However, conflicting reports have emerged regarding the role of Iryo, with the operator denying the involvement of its train in the incident, which also contributed to delays due to a separate issue affecting the catenary.

ADIF, the infrastructure manager, has confirmed that its security patrols are collaborating with the Guardia Civil to document the Sunday events for legal proceedings.

Concerns are also being raised by the President of the Andalusian region, Juan Manuel Moreno, who called for alternatives for affected passengers and urged immediate action from the Transport Ministry.

Political tensions have escalated, with the opposition criticizing the government’s management of the railway system, and accusations of opportunism levied by ruling party officials against the opposition for attempting to leverage the incident for political gain.