The Spanish Council of Ministers has appointed Inmaculada Gutiérrez Carrizo as the new president of Renfe and Joaquim Hortalà i Vallvé as president of Adif, the country's rail infrastructure manager, as reported by Lasexta on Friday 13th November 2026. The changes follow the removal of former Renfe leader Álvaro Fernández Herida and come amid an ongoing rail crisis and leadership shift at the Ministry of Transport.
Gutiérrez Carrizo, previously the general director of Renfe Proyectos Internacional, has extensive experience in international rail projects and public administration. She has served as an economic and commercial counsellor for Spain in the United States and held roles at the National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC).
Hortalà i Vallvé, a state lawyer since 2004, has held senior legal and governance roles at the CNMC and the Bank Restructuring Fund (FROB). He was most recently the secretary general of Renfe Operadora until July 2026.
What It Means for Passengers
The appointments signal a strategic reset for Spain’s rail services under Transport Minister Carlos Cuerpo, who took office recently. Commuters using Rodalies, long-distance, or high-speed AVE services may see policy shifts in service reliability, investment, and international operations in the coming months.
Passengers concerned about service changes can monitor updates via the official Renfe and Adif websites for route adjustments, timetables, or infrastructure works.
Sources: Lasexta.
