Minister Óscar Puente Dismisses ADIF President in Organizational Shakeup Amid Rail Issues
Transportation and Sustainable Mobility Minister Óscar Puente has taken a decisive step by dismissing Ángel Contreras, the president of ADIF, in a move aimed at enhancing the management efficiency of the Spanish rail company. This development, confirmed by government sources to Europa Press, highlights the ongoing efforts by the Ministry to address various challenges within rail operations. Contreras, who had served less than a year in his position, was appointed to lead the organization following the departure of María Luisa Domínguez when Puente was first appointed to the Ministry.
Sources within the Transport sector revealed to Cadena SER that the removal of Contreras is part of a larger internal restructuring initiative at ADIF, signaling that further changes within the company's leadership might be imminent in the coming weeks. The timing of this announcement coincides with a summer marked by multiple incidents involving rail transport, including delays from Renfe and complications stemming from infrastructure and maintenance projects.
For instance, earlier today, a significant incident occurred at the Atocha station, disrupting the entry and exit of high-speed trains for at least two hours. Additionally, a derailment in Barcelona resulted in delays affecting a dozen trains scheduled to depart from Sants, raising concerns about the reliability of Spain's rail service. Such disruptions have prompted scrutiny and calls for improved oversight and management within ADIF.
The backdrop of Contreras's dismissal also connects to the ongoing investigation tied to the Koldo case, which has stirred controversies within the Ministry. Though officials have stressed that this particular dismissal is not directly related to the case, it follows a series of firings by Minister Puente over the past months as part of the government's clean-up effort. Notably, Contreras appeared before a Senate investigation committee back in June to address questions following the emergence of a photograph featuring him with former Minister José Luis Ábalos and Koldo García, a figure linked to the scandal.
Despite his denials regarding any business relations with Koldo, Contreras acknowledged past meetings with Ábalos. Minister Puente has consistently underscored his commitment to dismiss any officials connected to the case, reflecting a zero-tolerance approach to potential misconduct. In addition to Contreras, the Minister has previously relieved several other officials, including the Secretary General of State Ports, Álvaro Sánchez Manzanares, and the Undersecretary of State, Jesús Manuel Gómez.
As the government prepares to announce Contreras's successor in the next Council of Ministers meeting slated for Tuesday, the ongoing reshuffling at ADIF raises important questions about the future leadership direction and its potential impacts on Spain's rail services. Stakeholders are eager to see whether new leadership will bring about the necessary improvements to mitigate the transportation challenges currently facing the country.
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