In Spain, the managing director of the state railway agency Renfe and a high-ranking official of the transport ministry resigned due to an incorrect order placed for the purchase of their new trains.
BBC in TurkishIt turned out that the new commuter trains purchased were too large to pass through some tunnels. This caused public controversy.
Thereupon, Renfe's general manager Isaías Táboas decided to resign. Apart from Táboas, Isabel Pardo de Vera, Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, who was the head of Adif, the state agency responsible for railway infrastructures, also resigned.
wrong order event
Renfe ordered 2020 commuter trains worth 258m euros in June 31 from CAF company for the mountainous northern regions of the country.
CAF stopped construction of the trains in March 2021, realizing that the train dimensions were not correct and would be too wide for some tunnels. Railways in this area were built in the 19th century. The tunnels do not comply with modern standards, and there are tunnels of different sizes.
The Spanish government and Renfe said the error was detected early and no money was wasted.
Renfe explained that under the terms of the contract, CAF had to verify the dimensions before starting the construction of the trains and therefore there was no risk. However, Renfe has announced that the trains could be delivered in 2024, not in 2026 as planned.
An investigation has been initiated on the matter.