EU prosecutors open second Spanish rail funding probe

Investigators took measures at three Spanish rail and audit bodies over possible fraud involving EU-funded upgrades to the Madrid–Seville line.

El País reports investigators sought records on three tenders worth about €136.4 million in total.
The EPPO has not publicly confirmed which contracts are under examination.
Adif said it supplied information requested by investigators, Reuters reported.
The inquiry is separate from proceedings investigating the Urda crash’s cause.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has opened a second investigation into possible fraud involving EU funds for safety, signalling and communications upgrades to Spain’s Madrid–Seville high-speed line. It said investigative measures took place at rail infrastructure manager Adif, the State Railway Safety Agency and Spain’s Court of Auditors, with support from the Guardia Civil. ¹

El País, citing sources close to the inquiry, reported that investigators collected files relating to three tenders worth about €136.4 million combined. The reported contracts cover a signalling and telecommunications upgrade, switch renewals and track-circuit work. The EPPO has not publicly confirmed that these tenders are the ones under examination. ²

The reported tender total is distinct from a European Commission grant of more than €110 million, approved in 2024 for improvements to 435.2km of the 471km line. The wider programme included replacing rails and sleepers, bridge and tunnel work, drainage and facilities upgrades; the available information does not establish how the reported tenders relate to the grant. ³

Adif said EPPO staff visited its headquarters and that it supplied the requested information, Reuters reported. The State Railway Safety Agency and the Court of Auditors had not immediately responded to Reuters. ⁴

The EPPO announced the inquiry on 6 November, after a collision near Urda on 28 October that killed 69 people, according to El País. The EPPO has made no finding linking suspected fraud to the crash; Spanish judicial proceedings investigating its cause are separate. It has not named suspects or specified a possible financial loss. ¹ ²

The EPPO said an earlier investigation concerning the same line opened in March 2026. It has not said whether the two inquiries share evidence or concern the same contracts. ¹

EU prosecutors open second Spanish rail funding probe

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