Adamuz judge authorises measuring wear on the accident rails before experts and the Civil Guard

The judge of the Montoro (Córdoba) court investigating the Adamuz rail accident of January 18, which left 46 dead and more than 120 injured, has authorised the Independent Administrative Authority for the Technical Investigation of Accidents (Aitat) to measure rail wear on the samples held at its facilities, according to an order dated November 11 seen by Europa Press.

Under that order, the measurement must not alter the samples, the court-appointed experts must be present and it will be carried out under the control of the Civil Guard's Judicial Police, which will draw up a record of the tool used, the people involved and any incidents, to guarantee the chain of custody. Aitat's request reached the court on November 10 through the Civil Guard in Córdoba.

Aitat's Technical Directorate for Rail Accident Investigation has bought a digital rail wear measuring tool expected to arrive on November 15, according to the same report. The date of the measurement has not been set and must be notified to the court in advance.

Adif Alta Velocidad, the high-speed rail infrastructure manager, has also delivered to the court track inspection reports and documentation on the emergency works and on the supply and transport of ballast, in response to a request of October 30, according to Europa Press. The judge has ordered that documentation to be passed to the court-appointed experts.

Developing story: the information comes from a Europa Press wire citing the court order; a second independent source or the court document itself is still needed.