Train disasters drive passengers away from Spain's high-speed network, in blow to tourism
MADRID, Nov 13 -
asserted
disasters → drive → tourism
Spain's two deadly train accidents this year have driven passengers away from the world's second-largest high-speed rail network, a concern for a country heavily reliant on tourism and business travel, experts and business groups said.
asserted
experts → drive → tourism
The October 28 collision, which killed 69 people, shut the Madrid-Andalusia high-speed line for the second time in nine months, forcing its nearly 19,000 daily passengers to seek alternatives.
asserted
which → kill → alternatives
The line remains closed.
asserted
line → remain → ?
According to competition watchdog CNMC's data, the number of long-distance high-speed rail passengers fell 15% in January-June to 18.7 million following January's high-speed train collision near the village of Adamuz in southern Spain that killed 46 people, with most travellers switching to rental cars and domestic flights.
uncertain
travellers → accord → cars
Based on Reuters' calculations, that was almost six times the impact a 30-day closure of the line might normally be expected to have.
uncertain
closure → base → line
The impact of the latest crash is yet to be quantified but is likely to be heavier, experts say, as they fear further erosion of confidence in Spain, the world's second-most visited country after France, as a safe travel destination.
asserted
they → quantify → destination
"All accidents are serious, but when you have two within just nine months ... you have a strong impact on reputation," said Juan Pedro Aznar, a researcher at Esade business school, adding that restoring confidence would require making technical fixes a political priority.
Carlos Garrido, head of tourism industry group Mesa del Turismo, urged authorities to present a comprehensive infrastructure and maintenance plan.
Canadian tourist Isobel Hamilton, 50, said the latest crash prompted her and her husband to change plans and travel outside Madrid by bus.
asserted
crash → have → bus
"We were uncomfortable about keeping a rail trip in our plans ...
asserted
We → keep → plans
Even if everything had been restored and was running normally I probably would still have chosen to take the bus," she said.
asserted
she → restore → bus
This week, the national government approved a decree containing measures to strengthen rail safety and social protection for train drivers and control room staff.
asserted
government → approve → drivers
The main train drivers' union described the measures as the first real step towards improving security.
asserted
union → describe → security
The Transport Ministry could not immediately be reached for comment on additional measures.
uncertain
Ministry → reach → measures
ANDALUSIA COUNTS THE COST
While most international tourists arrive by air, the high-speed rail network has played a key supporting role in the growth of major tourism and business destinations across Spain over the past few decades.
asserted
network → count → decades
The Chamber of Commerce in Andalusia's capital Seville estimates that additional air, bus and car services cover only 60% of the halted train traffic, with daily losses for the region reaching almost €1.5 million ($1.7 million).
asserted
losses → estimate → million
Last-minute flight bookings have risen as much as 61% so far in November, according to an industry source.
uncertain
bookings → rise → source
The disruptions have also triggered a surge in demand for carpooling, with anecdotal evidence pointing to clients also favouring rental cars and buses over slower trains that still serve the southern route.
asserted
that → trigger → route
"In the long run, we'll end up regaining confidence in train services, as long as there isn't another accident," said Marc Selgas, a professor at St. Pol Hospitality & Culinary Business School in Barcelona.
asserted
Selgas → end → Barcelona
The Aporia
