Catalan president backs keeping Barcelona-Madrid high-speed rail running during upgrades

President Salvador Illa has called for high-speed rail services between Barcelona and Madrid to remain operational while essential renovation work is carried out, with disruption kept to a minimum.

In a radio interview with Cadena SER, the Catalan president said that, to date, necessary work had been undertaken while "affecting services as little as possible."

"The minister opened up a discussion, saying that in other countries they do things differently," he said, referring to Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente, who raised the possibility of suspending the high-speed line following the tragic train accident in Toledo.

Illa said upgrades should be carried out "when they are due," in accordance with "the highest safety standards" and while affecting services "as little as possible."

Regarding accountability for the train collision, Illa pointed out that Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had said that "this is not acceptable for a country like Spain." 

Illa said experts considered high-speed rail "safe" and added that the available data pointed to "human error" as a factor in the accident.

At least 69 people were killed when an AVE high-speed train collided with a stationary Iryo high-speed train in Toledo province on Wednesday.