Spain train crash: train cleared to move despite red signal, death toll 68
After a safety system failure, the Adif control centre let one train continue even though another was ahead of it. The collision near Urda in Toledo province killed at least 68 people.
Author: Editorial teamPublished: 2 min read
Contents
The collision of two high-speed trains in Spain was linked to a safety system failure and a wrong decision in the traffic control centre, according to findings presented by Transport Minister Óscar Puente. The BBC describes recordings of exchanges between the centre and drivers, which appear to show that one train was cleared to move although another was stalled ahead.
What happened
The crash took place on Wednesday 28 October 2026, shortly before 9am, near Urda in Toledo province. Both trains were running on the Madrid–Seville route. According to the authorities of Castilla-La Mancha, at least 68 people died and about 80 were injured.
The failure and the operator's decision
According to the minister, at about 8:30am a communication error between three computers shut down the LZB automatic train control system along a section of about 63 km. Trains on that section stopped automatically, and the round-the-clock control centre of Adif, the rail infrastructure manager, took over.
At about 8:36am, an employee of the centre reportedly allowed the driver of an AVE train to resume normal running. The LZB system was still down and the signal showed red. Mr Puente called the decision "inexplicable". He added that several minutes passed between the clearance and the collision, so the centre had time to notice and correct the error.
The AVE train hit the rear of an Iryo train, causing several carriages to derail and fall down an embankment. The speed of the impact is not yet known. Media reported that an operator from the traffic control centre was questioned by Spain's Guardia Civil.
Impact on services
After the crash, traffic on the line linking Madrid with Andalusia was suspended. Renfe said services between Madrid, Ciudad Real and Andalusia had been halted. The injured were taken mainly to the hospital in Toledo and the Mancha Centro hospital in Alcázar de San Juan. Blood donation centres appealed for donors.
What this means for you
People planning to travel by rail from Madrid to Andalusia should check the latest announcements from Renfe and Iryo. The sources do not say when services will resume. Spanish authorities are investigating the causes of the crash, and the findings presented so far are preliminary.
Sources
- Katastrofa kolejowa w Hiszpanii. Minister wskazuje na błąd człowieka
- Przyczyny katastrofy kolejowej w Hiszpanii. Jest komunikat ministra transportu
- Zderzenie pociągów w Hiszpanii. Minister transportu o "niewytłumaczalnym zezwoleniu"
- Audio reveals exchanges between control centre and drivers before deadly Spain train crash
This article was prepared automatically by AI from the listed sources and published without prior editorial review. Spotted a mistake? Use the “Report an error in this article” button.
Photos
- Cover: „train, high speed rail, bullet train, elevated, river”, author: Kanenori, licence Pixabay Content License; cropped or resized.
- Photo 1: „controls, indoors, room, computer, control center”, author: Pexels, licence Pixabay Content License; cropped or resized.
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