Spain has experienced significant disruptions in its railway services, affecting approximately 10,700 passengers over the past two days.

The incidents come just six days after a massive power outage left thousands stranded across the Iberian Peninsula.

The latest chaos stems from the theft of 150 meters of cable along the Madrid-Andalucía corridor, coupled with a failure in the overhead catenary system near Sagra, Toledo, as an Iryo train passed through.

Transport Minister Óscar Puente has characterized the cable theft as a deliberate act of sabotage, asserting that the individual responsible demonstrated knowledge of the railway's operations by targeting a crucial segment of the line devoid of surveillance cameras.

According to the Ministry of Transport, the Civil Guard and Adif patrols launched an investigation immediately to address the situation following the cable theft, acknowledging that there is legal action underway concerning the theft, which has impacted the signaling systems of the railway.

Minister Puente emphasized the premeditated nature of the act, considering that the stolen copper cable, valued at around 300 euros, can significantly disrupt services.

The absence of this cable compromises safety systems, which are essential for train operations by providing real-time data on train locations and ensuring that tracks are clear.

As a result, trains are restricted to a maximum speed of 40 km/h in affected areas.

The theft reportedly occurred around 17:40 local time, involving breaches of security fencing and targeted cable removal at multiple points over a 10-kilometer stretch in Toledo.

Specifically, the incidents took place at five strategic locations, which compromised the integrity of the rail line.

Following the disruptions, passengers were observed stranded onboard trains and at various stations, with numerous complaints across social media regarding insufficient communication and amenities during the delays.

Despite assurances from Renfe President Álvaro Fernández Heredia that support and food were being provided, many passengers remained in limbo, particularly on the Madrid-Andalucía routes serving Málaga, Sevilla, and Granada.

Trains on these routes remained out of service until repairs could be completed, with the first train departing Atocha for Málaga at approximately 09:40. However, services on the Madrid-Toledo line were resumed earlier, around 09:00.

By 13:00, it was reported that over 70% of train services had been restored, with expectations for full recovery between 14:00 and 16:00. Renfe announced initiatives to accommodate affected passengers, including the deployment of double-composition trains to transport them to their destinations.

Meanwhile, Iryo has disputed claims regarding its responsibility for the disruption, explaining that the service was temporarily halted due to reduced speeds resulting from the cable theft.

Iryo clarified that the cable and the overhead systems were already compromised before their train continued to operate, leading to further complications.

In a statement, Fernández Heredia noted that the operational challenges persisted even after trains resumed service, with one Iryo train allegedly encountering issues that exacerbated the overall delays.