Spain Reels from Second High-Speed Rail Disaster This Year After Deadly Collision Near Urda

Investigators are using heavy machinery to clear the wreckage of a high-speed train crash that occurred near Urda, Spain, on October 28, 2026. The collision, which involved a high-speed train striking the rear of a stationary train, resulted in at least 68 fatalities and approximately 80 injuries. The incident took place just before 9 am (08:00 GMT) south of Madrid and marks Spain's second fatal high-speed rail disaster within a year, occurring only weeks before national elections. Authorities have attributed the crash to an "inexplicable" directive from a rail control center that permitted one of the trains to resume normal speed following a signaling failure.

What happened and where?

The moving train was operated by Renfe, Spain's state-owned rail company, and collided with the back of a stalled train run by Iryo, a private operator that entered Spain's high-speed rail market in 2022. Both trains were en route from Madrid to Seville. According to the government of Castilla-La Mancha, where the crash occurred, the Renfe train was carrying 397 passengers, and the Iryo train had 147 aboard. The collision happened on an elevated section of track between Urda and the nearby town of Los Yebenes, close to the historic city of Toledo. Spanish newspaper El Pais reported that two of the Iryo train's carriages derailed and fell down an embankment. This death toll is the highest in a European rail accident since the 2013 derailment in Santiago de Compostela, which claimed 80 lives. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited the crash site and declared three days of national mourning, commencing on Thursday. He vowed to thoroughly investigate the incident, stating that any negligence or system failures would be addressed decisively.

What do we know about the dead and injured?

Emiliano Garcia-Page, president of the Castilla-La Mancha regional government, confirmed that at least 68 people died and around 80 were injured, with 50 sustaining serious injuries and 15 in critical condition. The most severely injured were transported to hospitals in the region and the capital, Madrid. Others received medical attention at a nearby sports hall, where emergency teams triaged them based on injury severity before directing them to hospitals or sending them home. Survivors treated at the scene reported head wounds, facial swelling, and bloodied clothing, with many appearing dazed, according to local media. Juan Quesada, a 65-year-old passenger on the Renfe train, sustained a head injury and described the event as a "tremendous impact and so much noise, and everyone was coming at you." A local who assisted at the makeshift medical center described the scene as "like a horror movie." Emergency crews continue to work at the site, clearing wreckage and searching for victims. So far, 52 bodies have been recovered. Spain's Civil Guard has dispatched a disaster investigation team to collect evidence.

What caused the collision between the trains?

Transport Minister Oscar Puente stated that at approximately 8:30 am (07:30 GMT), a computer failure disrupted LZB, the primary signaling system responsible for maintaining safe distances between trains. This failure caused about six trains on a 63km (39-mile) stretch to stop automatically, including the Renfe and Iryo trains. The Renfe train was reportedly traveling about 25km (15.5 miles) behind the Iryo train on the same track. Control of these trains then transferred to Adif, the state company managing Spain's rail infrastructure, at its Madrid control center. Controllers were tasked with determining when and at what speed each train could resume movement. Preliminary investigations cited by El Pais, based on train data and controller recordings, indicate that at 8:36 am, controllers authorized the Renfe train to proceed at normal speed. The Iryo train received the same instruction at 8:41 am but remained stationary. By 8:48 am, its driver reported it was still stalled, by which time the Renfe train had accelerated to over 200 km/h (124 mph). At 8:53 am, it collided with the stationary Iryo train. A truck crane is seen operating at the crash site.

Was human error or a signalling failure responsible?

Minister Puente suggested the crash resulted from an "inexplicable" order from the control center following the safety system's failure, absolving the train drivers and engineers of blame. He argued that the Renfe train should not have been allowed to move while a stop signal was active or, at the very least, should have been instructed to proceed slowly. Spanish rail regulations typically require trains to move at a maximum of 40 km/h (25 mph) when the automatic safety system LZB is down, allowing drivers to spot obstacles and stop in time. A backup system is in place, but it relies on fixed trackside signals to determine train locations rather than continuous line monitoring. Rail engineer Jose Luis Gonzalez Vallve explained to EFE that the primary system, capable of automatically applying brakes when detecting a stopped train ahead, would have prevented the collision if operational. El Pais also reported the absence of a trackside signal between the two trains that could have halted the Renfe train, leaving the controllers' instructions as the sole safety measure. Both train companies have offered their accounts: Renfe stated its train moved as instructed, while sources close to Iryo told EFE that its train had stopped at a signal and contacted controllers as required. Adif has not yet identified the specific point of failure at its control center, according to company sources cited by EFE. Regional officials in Andalusia observed a moment of silence for the victims.

How have train services been affected?

Adif has suspended high-speed rail services between Madrid and the southern region of Andalusia following the crash. However, services between Madrid and the nearby city of Toledo, and between the southern cities of Malaga and Seville, remain operational. Renfe has suspended ticket sales on the Madrid-Andalusia high-speed corridor until December 13, with an alternative service planned to commence on Friday.

Why has Spain suffered two deadly high-speed crashes this year?

On January 18, a high-speed train derailed near Adamuz in Cordoba province, colliding with an oncoming train and killing 46 people. That incident also involved Renfe and Iryo trains on the same line. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), commented that while the causes of the two crashes appear unrelated, two high-speed rail accidents in a single year are "unacceptable for a country like Spain." The Madrid-Seville line is the only high-speed route in Spain still utilizing the LZB system, which dates back to the line's opening in 1992 and is slated for an upgrade. Adif was awarded a 52-month contract in 2021 to replace it with the European Union's standard signaling system, but the work is ongoing. Spain has also experienced two lower-speed train crashes this year, each resulting in one fatality and multiple injuries. The aftermath of the January 2026 train crash in Cordoba is shown.

What about the political fallout?

With national elections imminent, the crash has become a significant political issue in Spain. On Wednesday evening, approximately 1,500 people protested in front of the Ministry of Transport, organized by right-wing youth groups, calling for Minister Puente's resignation and clashing with police. Prime Minister Sanchez has canceled campaign rallies to address the crisis. Alberto Nunez Feijoo, leader of the main opposition People's Party (PP), also canceled campaign events during the mourning period and demanded a thorough investigation, stating, "This is the moment to respect the dead, the injured and their families." The PP currently holds a slight lead over the ruling PSOE in opinion polls. In contrast, Santiago Abascal, leader of the far-right Vox party, has not suspended his campaign activities and has used strong rhetoric, labeling the government "a criminal organisation" and vowing legal action.