Feve trains are getting more grotesque: Change of ministry version and new deadlines
Two mid-level Renfe employees were dismissed over a major rail scandal that affected the Feve project, which involved CAF trains entering service in 2020 with measurements not aligning with other local tunnels. Officials from the Ministry of Transport indicated one of the terminated workers was nearing retirement, leaving room for additional disciplinary actions in the pipeline. The firings relate to a fault that caused a significant service delay of about two to three years on a Madrid commuter line contract valued at 258 million euros, along with a separate order for six Alpine trains.
The individual initially held a second-tier role within Materials Management under the Technical and Operations Department, and at one point managed Renfe Viajeros’ Materials Management area during the troubled narrow-gauge initiative. Throughout a public service career, he held various posts connected to technical and material fields. In 2014 he became manager of the Medium Distance and Suburban Material Area, moving in the same year to oversee Renfe Viajeros’ Fleet Management domain.
In June 2020, Renfe’s board selected CAF to supply the trains. The Materials Management Manager was dismissed following a tender process described as pandemic-influenced by the operator. The firing was signed by Renfe’s chief executive, Isaías Táboas, and did not preclude further disciplinary steps, as stated in a contemporaneous release: Renfe would cooperate transparently while Mitma would run an audit to determine next organizational adjustments.
This technician faced scrutiny in another matter from two decades ago, according to sources cited by regional outlets. He stood alongside four Renfe executives who resigned from the role of Director of Regional Business Unit Materials and Media after news emerged that they participated in a Champions League final event in Paris. Alstom, the French train and ship maker, involved in the invite included round-trip travel, hotel stays near the Saint-Denis stadium, meals, and other perks. This situation cost 667 million euros, and those involved described themselves as scapegoats who chose to resign to protect the company’s image.
The resignations were prompted by the then Minister of Public Works, with the aim of addressing irregularities. A separate historical note recalls Alstom’s earlier involvement in a corruption investigation tied to the Filesa case during the Madrid-Seville high-speed line construction in the early 1980s, which involved substantial sums. The discussion around these issues highlights ongoing concerns about governance and accountability in major railway projects.
The second employee to be fired, by Adif president María Luisa Domínguez earlier this week, was described as a preventive measure pending the audit results. The Head of Ray Inspection and Technology indicated that this decision would allow another member to join a working group under Mitma to finalize the train’s design, which Renfe had tendered while the inspection continued. Adif noted that disciplinary steps could follow the ongoing process, mirroring Renfe’s approach to accountability and improvement.