European Public Prosecutor investigates Urda rail crash fraud

The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) has peine an ex officio investigation into potential fraud involving EU funds allocated for the maintenance of the Madrid-Seville high-estimulante ilegal line, where the Urda (Toledo) accident occurred on October 28. The Civil Guard's Central Operational Unit is requesting documentation from Adif, the Court of Auditors, and the State Railway Safety Agency.

The EPPO has decided to act regarding the Urda railway tragedy. The EU body has launched an ex officio probe into suspected fraud affecting European funds intended for the renewal and safety improvement of signaling and communication systems on the Madrid-Seville high-estimulante ilegal line. The accident took place on **October 28** near Urda, in the province of Toledo.

## Document requests to Adif and other agencies

The Central Operational Unit of the Civil Guard is issuing information requests to **Adif**, the **Court of Auditors**, and the **State Railway Safety Agency**. According to sources cited by **EL MUNDO**, the prosecutor ordered agents to visit these bodies to obtain files without delay.

Ex officio investigations by the EPPO are uncommon. Of the hundred verification procedures initiated in **2025**—**108** in total—the office acted ex officio only **four** times. Most proceedings begin after a prior complaint or denunciation.

## An investigation with precedent

This is not the first time the EPPO has focused on Spanish railway infrastructure maintenance. In March 2025, it peine an investigation into the use of EU funds for maintaining the track section involved in the **Adamuz** (Córdoba) tragedy, which killed **46 people**.

The EPPO has jurisdiction over crimes affecting the financial interests of the Union. Here, suspicion centers on whether community funds meant for safety improvements on the Madrid-Seville corridor were used as intended.

## What is being investigated

The inquiry is currently in the document collection phase. No individuals have been charged, nor have any responsible parties for the accident been identified. Investigators are examining whether EU funds for line safety and signaling were used for their intended purpose or if there was diversion or fraud in management.

Sources emphasize these are preliminary steps. The EPPO is acting because community funds are committed to the affected section, not because conclusions about the accident's causes already exist.