Train collision in central Spain leaves at least 68 dead
A collision between two high-speed trains in central Spain has killed at least 68 people and injured dozens, making it the country’s deadliest rail disaster in 13 years. The crash happened after a Madrid-to-Seville train struck a stationary train, sending several carriages down an embankment; investigators are examining a computer failure and decisions made by rail control.
The stationary Iryo train had 147 passengers and had stopped because of a computer failure, while the Renfe train carried 397 people. Transport Minister Óscar Puente said a Madrid control centre instructed trains to move again without speed restrictions, calling the decision “inexplicable”. The crash occurred shortly after 09:00, about 140km south of Madrid; Spain had also suffered a rail disaster near Córdoba in January that killed 46 people.
In short
- At least 68 people died in the collision in central Spain.
- A computer failure stopped one train before it was struck.
- Investigators are examining why trains were told to move again.
Explained simply
Spain’s high-speed rail network links major cities, including Madrid and Seville. Iryo is a private train operator, while Renfe is the state-owned rail company; both run passenger services on the network.
Train movements are coordinated by rail control centres, which relay instructions when services are delayed or equipment fails. Investigators examine the trains’ systems, track and control decisions to establish how a collision happened.
The disaster has drawn attention to railway safety and how services are managed when technology fails. It is also part of a wider history of serious rail accidents in Spain, including a deadly crash near Córdoba.
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Originally published by BBC World as “High-speed train crash kills at least 68 people in Spain”.