Adif blocks the website that marks locations where trains reduce speed, claiming the information is 'sensitive'
Adif has blocked a website that provided information on temporary speed restrictions for trains, citing concerns over sensitive information, while the platform Dignitat a les Vies shares the erased data on social media.
Adif, the infrastructure management company in Spain, has taken action to block a website created by the platform Dignitat a les Vies that displayed a dynamic map showing temporary speed restrictions on the national railway network. This action was undertaken by Adif's cybersecurity department, asserting that the information shared on the site was considered sensitive. The website was developed in response to significant disruptions experienced by Rodalies de Cataluña passengers, particularly following a train accident that resulted in numerous speed restrictions across the network.
The initiative to create the website emerged after users faced ongoing service interruptions since the Gelida accident on January 20, which left the network with about 200 points of speed limitations. The website allowed users, including anonymous train operators, to consult real-time data regarding these restrictions, helping them navigate the services more effectively. Adif's decisive intervention, however, has raised eyebrows about the transparency and availability of information that affects passenger safety and service reliability.
In the face of Adif's censorship of the website, the platform Dignitat a les Vies has resorted to social media for disseminating the previously available information. This situation underscores a clash between the intent to maintain operational security and the necessity for public accountability and information access regarding the safety regulations in the railway sector. The ongoing discourse around this incident highlights the tension between protecting sensitive operational data and ensuring passenger awareness in the event of service disruptions affecting safety and travel experience on the railways.