Judge probes alleged PSOE kickbacks in record rail deal
Spain's UCO requests Adif contracts for Renfe's largest train order, worth €2.445 billion, as a judge opens an inquiry into alleged commissions for the PSOE.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
The Central Operative Unit (UCO) of Spain's Civil Guard has requested information from Adif regarding the €2.445 million contract for 211 commuter trains, while National Court judge Ismael Moreno has peine a separate investigation into alleged kickbacks destined for the PSOE. The case, which is under secrecy, investigates influence peddling, incivil organization, and money laundering.
The UCO has required Adif to provide details on the largest railway contract in Renfe's history: **2.445 million euros** for the purchase of **211 commuter trains**. Judge **Ismael Moreno**, who presides over Operation Delorme at the National Court, has initiated an eighth separate file based on a UCO report concerning alleged bribes in public contracts. This new line of inquiry targets influence peddling, incivil organization, and money laundering, and remains classified.
The investigation stems from testimony given by **Víctor de Aldama** before the Supreme Court in the mask scandal case. According to his account, he and **Koldo García** traveled to Valencia four or five times to negotiate commissions for the PSOE during the tender process, acting on instructions from **José Luis Ábalos** and orders from Pedro Sánchez. This information led the National Court to open proceedings in November 2025 regarding the alleged irregular financing of the PSOE.
## A 211-train order awarded in 2021
Renfe tendered the contract in 2019 and awarded it in March 2021 to **Alstom** and **Stadler**, after disqualifying CAF and Talgo due to technical offer issues. The order is part of a fleet renewal plan worth approximately **3.500 million euros**. Alstom secured the lot of 152 trains for 1.447 million; Stadler obtained 59 trains for 998 million. In total, Renfe has contracted 79 trains with Stadler for 1.306 million.
According to Aldama, he first learned about the mega-contract from **Isabel Pardo de Vera**, then president of Adif, who told him it was a huge deal and that they needed to be interested because "the party needs funding." Aldama also places a meeting with Koldo and the president of Stadler Rail Valencia, **Íñigo Parra**, at the company formed after Swiss Stadler acquired Valencian firm Vossloh. These are claims made by the broker before the Supreme Court, not proven facts.
## Trains arriving with faulty brakes
The first Stadler units began operating on **August 31** on Madrid's C-7 commuter line. On **September 15**, Renfe reported making adjustments to the new trains to "identify improvement opportunities" and withdrew several units after detecting brake failures. The operator stated that entering and leaving workshops is common during initial commissioning.
On **October 1**, Renfe dismissed **Sonia Ferrero** as director of Madrid Commuter Services, replacing her with Aida Rozalén, previously head of Basque Country Commuter Services. Ferrero moved to the tourist trains area, which lost its Directorate status. Renfe sources assured that the dismissal was unrelated to the train incidents, though they did not clarify the reasons for the change.
## Raids, arrests, and a couple under investigation
The UCO raided Ábalos's home in Valencia this Thursday and questioned his partner, **Andrea de la Torre**, who was present in the residence, as a suspect. Searches were conducted in Madrid, Seville, and Córdoba, resulting in six arrests in an operation targeting alleged irregularities at the Ministry of Transport when Ábalos was minister. Among those arrested is **Cristian Corvillo**, a former PSOE official linked to hydrocarbon schemes, and his brother Rubén.
Corvillo had testified as a witness on **September 3** before judge Santiago Pedraz in the hydrocarbons case. The UCO report recently received by Moreno places them in the public works bribery scheme. The six detainees were released that same afternoon, pending judicial summons to testify as suspects.
It should be noted that the case is under secrecy, arrests do not imply conviction, and Aldama's statements represent his version of events, subject to judicial verification.
The UCO has required Adif to provide details on the largest railway contract in Renfe's history: **2.445 million euros** for the purchase of **211 commuter trains**. Judge **Ismael Moreno**, who presides over Operation Delorme at the National Court, has initiated an eighth separate file based on a UCO report concerning alleged bribes in public contracts. This new line of inquiry targets influence peddling, incivil organization, and money laundering, and remains classified.
The investigation stems from testimony given by **Víctor de Aldama** before the Supreme Court in the mask scandal case. According to his account, he and **Koldo García** traveled to Valencia four or five times to negotiate commissions for the PSOE during the tender process, acting on instructions from **José Luis Ábalos** and orders from Pedro Sánchez. This information led the National Court to open proceedings in November 2025 regarding the alleged irregular financing of the PSOE.
## A 211-train order awarded in 2021
Renfe tendered the contract in 2019 and awarded it in March 2021 to **Alstom** and **Stadler**, after disqualifying CAF and Talgo due to technical offer issues. The order is part of a fleet renewal plan worth approximately **3.500 million euros**. Alstom secured the lot of 152 trains for 1.447 million; Stadler obtained 59 trains for 998 million. In total, Renfe has contracted 79 trains with Stadler for 1.306 million.
According to Aldama, he first learned about the mega-contract from **Isabel Pardo de Vera**, then president of Adif, who told him it was a huge deal and that they needed to be interested because "the party needs funding." Aldama also places a meeting with Koldo and the president of Stadler Rail Valencia, **Íñigo Parra**, at the company formed after Swiss Stadler acquired Valencian firm Vossloh. These are claims made by the broker before the Supreme Court, not proven facts.
## Trains arriving with faulty brakes
The first Stadler units began operating on **August 31** on Madrid's C-7 commuter line. On **September 15**, Renfe reported making adjustments to the new trains to "identify improvement opportunities" and withdrew several units after detecting brake failures. The operator stated that entering and leaving workshops is common during initial commissioning.
On **October 1**, Renfe dismissed **Sonia Ferrero** as director of Madrid Commuter Services, replacing her with Aida Rozalén, previously head of Basque Country Commuter Services. Ferrero moved to the tourist trains area, which lost its Directorate status. Renfe sources assured that the dismissal was unrelated to the train incidents, though they did not clarify the reasons for the change.
## Raids, arrests, and a couple under investigation
The UCO raided Ábalos's home in Valencia this Thursday and questioned his partner, **Andrea de la Torre**, who was present in the residence, as a suspect. Searches were conducted in Madrid, Seville, and Córdoba, resulting in six arrests in an operation targeting alleged irregularities at the Ministry of Transport when Ábalos was minister. Among those arrested is **Cristian Corvillo**, a former PSOE official linked to hydrocarbon schemes, and his brother Rubén.
Corvillo had testified as a witness on **September 3** before judge Santiago Pedraz in the hydrocarbons case. The UCO report recently received by Moreno places them in the public works bribery scheme. The six detainees were released that same afternoon, pending judicial summons to testify as suspects.
It should be noted that the case is under secrecy, arrests do not imply conviction, and Aldama's statements represent his version of events, subject to judicial verification.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (1 replies).
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