Spain replaces leaders of Renfe and Adif amid rail crisis

Spain’s government has changed the leaders of Renfe and Adif, the country’s state-owned rail operator and infrastructure manager.

Inmaculada Gutiérrez Carrizo will lead Renfe, replacing Álvaro Fernández Heredia, while Joaquim Hortalà will take over Adif.

The appointments are part of Carlos Cuerpo’s effort to reset rail management after he took over responsibility for the crisis following Óscar Puente’s resignation.

Hortalà previously worked at Renfe and left in July after disagreements with its management; Gutiérrez was a senior executive at the operator.

Both appointees have public-sector management experience, but neither is a specialist in running railway operations.

Rail workers have raised concerns about safety, staffing shortages and heavy workloads, while accidents and strained labor relations have added to the turmoil.

Cuerpo wants the new leaders to rebuild trust and improve relations with staff, though the sources do not give a timetable for changes.