They are called Dignitat a les Vies, a group expressing their frustration with Renfe, Cercanías, and Adif, stating bluntly: “we want a decent railway system.” As part of their protest, they launched a website detailing all speed limitations present on Spanish railways.
Cessation of Activity. A recent announcement from Dignitat a les Vies reveals that their website, which compiled all speed restrictions, has been taken down by Adif, the railway infrastructure manager.
The official reason for the takedown stems from a complaint lodged by Adif, which deems the information on Temporary Speed Limits (LTV) as “sensitive” and unsuitable for public viewing. A court has subsequently mandated the website’s shutdown.
What Was Shown? The website provided a comprehensive map illustrating over 1,000 incidents of speed limitations across Spanish railways. This information was primarily supported by users and train machinists according to The Country. The media has since replicated this map, highlighting a refusal from Adif to disclose the same public data, labeling it as a form of “paternalism.”
This group alleges that Adif is non-compliant with current laws, including Law 9/2025 on Sustainable Mobility and various EU regulations. They advocate that transparency in data pertaining to infrastructure and its restrictions is essential for users to comprehend chronic delays.
The Restrictions. As reported by The Country, Spain has more than 1,000 active temporary speed restrictions. These limitations require trains to operate below their maximum speed at various points. The reasons behind these restrictions include both maintenance work on the tracks and warnings from train drivers who identify areas needing review. Following the recent Adamuz accident in Córdoba, the urgency around these warnings has notably amplified.
Moreover, train drivers possess the authority to enforce speed reductions under certain conditions, although Adif commands the ultimate decision-making regarding the implementation of these restrictions.
Is It Important? Yes, temporary speed restrictions significantly affect travel times. Reports confirm that high-speed routes, such as Madrid-Barcelona, face substantial delays due to ongoing actions on the tracks. Unfortunately, since these delays are attributed to the infrastructural manager Adif, travelers have no recourse for compensation.
As of March 9, The Country indicated that 422 points mandate a maximum speed of 30 km/h. When considering speed limits of 60 km/h or lower, there are over 850 points where high-speed trains are restricted.
Where Are There More Limitations? The volume of passenger traffic has drawn attention to restrictions between Madrid and Barcelona, where one can seldom travel without encountering unexpected delays. However, line 100 (Madrid-Hendaya) stands out with 83 limitations affecting 112 kilometers of the 641 kilometers in total. Following this line is line 400 (Alcázar de San Juan-Cádiz), which has 85 limited kilometers across 69 restrictions along 577 kilometers.
An even greater proportion of limitations exists on line 240 (S. Vicenç Calders-L’Hospitalet), where 56 out of 71 kilometers are impacted by 35 conflict points.
Photo | José Ignacio Esgarriaga
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