Andalucia’s president Juanma Moreno has demanded an immediate inspection of the region’s railways in the wake of the Toledo train disaster.

The Partido Popular leader said the high-speed connection with Madrid has lost its standing as a safe means of transport.

In a video message following Wednesday’s collision, Moreno called on the central government to provide ‘transparency, rigour and truth’.

He demanded an urgent review of all railway lines in Andalucia, with particular attention to the high-speed route linking the region to the capital.

The tragedy, he said, had struck at Andalucia’s heart again, following January’s fatal collision in Adamuz, Cordoba, which claimed 46 lives.

Moreno said the repetition of such disasters required a firm response from the government, which is ‘responsible for the infrastructure’.

He said passengers ‘needed clear and accurate information, alongside guarantees about their safety’.

Moreno described the anxiety felt by families waiting for relatives to confirm they had arrived safely in Madrid, saying Andalucians ‘should be able to travel with peace of mind’.

The president also spoke of his personal anguish over former employment minister Fatima Bañez, whose whereabouts remained unknown at the time of his statement. She has since been confirmed dead.

Bañez, who chaired the CEOE employers’ organisation’s foundation, had been travelling to Sevilla for Andalucia’s Business Day celebrations on Wednesday.

Moreno said the uncertainty was particularly painful because she was both a friend and colleague, and had boarded the train to attend the event with them.

The gathering had been organised by the Confederación de Empresarios de Andalucía and was due to take place at midday.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.