68 Dead in Spain Train Crash Before Election
A collision between a state-owned and a private train near Urda has intensified safety concerns for the country's high-speed rail network.
By Hiroshi Davis ·
Spain is grappling with the aftermath of a high-speed rail collision that killed 68 people, marking the second fatal accident on the network in twelve months. The crash occurred on Wednesday near the town of Urda in the central province of Toledo, where a moving train struck a stationary one from behind.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the site after regional officials confirmed that more than 60 people had died. Dozens of others were being treated in local hospitals. Sánchez declared a three-day period of national mourning beginning Thursday. He pledged a full investigation into the incident and promised improvements to the system.
"It is clear that we need to reinforce the safety of our train service to rebuild the trust in our high-speed rail," Sánchez said. "It is not acceptable for a country like Spain to endure two high-speed train accidents in the same year."
The network, which ranks second in the world only behind China, had not suffered a deadly crash in over three decades. The system carried 45 million travelers last year. Both fatal incidents this year involved a train operated by the state-owned RENFE and one from the privately owned IRYO. Spain opened its high-speed lines to private operators in 2021, with IRYO beginning service the following year.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente identified a specific sequence of events that led to the disaster. He stated that a security system covering a 63-kilometer stretch of track failed due to a computer malfunction at 8:30 a.m. This caused all trains in that section to stop. The IRYO train halted near Urda, while the RENFE train stopped 25 kilometers behind it.
Puente said that a central command center subsequently ordered the RENFE train to resume motion without speed restrictions. The train collided with the stationary IRYO service at 8:53 a.m. Puente described the order as inexplicable because a stop signal remained active on the line. He asserted that the engineers were not to blame for the error.
The accident has landed four weeks before Spain holds its first national election since 2023. Polls indicate Sánchez faces a challenging vote. His Socialist party had planned to capitalize on voter discontent regarding housing costs and rents. The crash adds a new layer of scrutiny to his administration.
Political rivals have reacted sharply. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the Popular Party, demanded a full investigation and canceled campaign events to respect the victims. Santiago Abascal of the far-right Vox party called the government a criminal organization and vowed to work until it answers for its actions in court. Workers used cranes late on Wednesday to clear the wreckage after emergency crews spent the day rescuing survivors.
Source: WFAE
