URDA (SPAIN), October 29: At least 68 people were killed and dozens injured after two high-speed trains collided in Spain's Toledo province on Wednesday, marking the country's second deadly rail accident this year.
According to regional authorities, 58 people required hospital treatment, while rescue teams continued searching through the mangled wreckage for survivors and victims. The collision involved two trains carrying hundreds of passengers and travelling from Madrid towards Seville in southwestern Spain.
Spain's rail infrastructure operator ADIF said the accident occurred in a rural area between the towns of Urda and Los Yebenes. A train operated by state-owned RENFE collided with the rear of a stationary train belonging to private operator IRYO, causing two carriages to derail.
The impact severely damaged several coaches, scattering debris across the surrounding area. Emergency services, firefighters, police personnel and a military emergency unit were deployed to assist with rescue operations. Ambulances and medical helicopters transported injured passengers to nearby hospitals.
Transport Minister Points To Possible Signalling Failure
Spain's Transport Minister Oscar Puente described the incident as inexplicable, citing a possible failure in the railway's security system and a subsequent decision by the central control centre to allow the RENFE train to resume movement.
Puente said a computer malfunction had disrupted the security system along a 63-kilometre stretch of track, forcing trains to stop. The RENFE train was reportedly instructed to move again without speed restrictions, despite a stop signal remaining active. It collided with the stationary IRYO train shortly afterwards.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision, including the train's speed and the decisions made by railway control officials. The minister said the train's engineers were not to blame, while stressing that the facts were still being examined.
Rail Services Suspended, Leaders Express Condolences
Rail services between Madrid, Ciudad Real and Andalusia were suspended following the accident. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez cancelled his scheduled engagements to focus on the emergency response and expressed condolences to the victims' families.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia also conveyed their sympathies, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed solidarity with Spain.
The Spanish Football Federation postponed all 24 Copa del Rey matches scheduled for Wednesday as a mark of respect.
Second Deadly Train Collision This Year
The tragedy comes months after another high-speed train collision in southern Spain in January, which claimed 46 lives. That accident involved trains operated by the same companies, raising fresh concerns about railway safety.
Spain has invested heavily in high-speed rail over the past three decades, building approximately 3,900 kilometres of high-speed tracks. However, railway workers' union representatives have questioned whether infrastructure maintenance has kept pace with increased traffic following the entry of private operators.
Investigations are underway to establish the exact cause of Wednesday's collision and determine whether technical failures or operational decisions contributed to the disaster.
