Spain, once a rail superpower with one of the world's largest high-speed networks, is facing a serious crisis after deadly train collisions in the south left 45 dead. The collisions happened on the high-speed line near Córdoba, a route praised globally for safety and efficiency. Alberto Montavez Montes, a shop owner near Córdoba city hall, said, “Since the high-speed line was built, 30-something years ago, we never had any problems, it worked perfectly and was fantastic.” But he added, “It's not that there's psychosis, but it does make you just a bit reluctant to get on a train, without a doubt.” The recent accidents include a high-speed collision involving a private operator’s train and a Renfe national train. In addition, a trainee driver was killed near Barcelona when a wall collapsed after heavy rain, and other minor train accidents followed. Catalonia's train drivers refused to work demanding safety guarantees, causing local rail shutdowns. The train drivers’ union Semaf has announced a nationwide strike in February over the “constant deterioration of the rail network.” Speed limits on some high-speed lines have been lowered due to safety worries. Passengers and media have reported delays, stoppages, and uneasy travel experiences. The government insists it has invested €700m to update the Madrid-Andalusia line where the crash occurred. Transport Minister Óscar Puente said, “We're not looking at a problem of lack of maintenance, we're not looking at a problem of obsolete [infrastructure], and we're not looking at a problem of lack of investment.” However, a preliminary report suggests a track fracture happened before the derailment. Despite rising maintenance costs, Spain ranks lowest among 14 European countries for rail spending per person. Experts say the rail system is “bursting at the seams” from increased traffic and new routes that strain upkeep. Political leaders have jumped into the debate. The far-right Vox claims, “Travelling in Spain [by train] is no longer safe.” The opposition People's Party accuses the government of hiding information about the crash. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the tragedy “irreparable” but said the high-speed network “is the cause of pride for the country.” Spain’s rail excellence, once praised by Barack Obama and seen as a European model, now faces a hard test to regain the trust of millions of passengers.