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At least 50 killed in Spanish high-speed train collision

At least 50 people are dead and another 170 injured after a train crash in central Spain, the country’s second in ten months

Published 28 Oct, 2026 09:50

| Updated 28 Oct, 2026 12:29Source: Social media

At least 50 people have been killed and more than 179 injured after two high-speed trains collided near Toledo, Spain, according to local media, citing the civil protection authorities.

The crash occurred at 8:54 AM local time on Wednesday between the towns of Los Yebenes and Urda, around 120 km south of Madrid, on the high-speed line linking the Spanish capital with Andalusia. A Renfe AVE train reportedly struck an Iryo train from behind, sending two carriages off the tracks and down an embankment, according to rail infrastructure operator Adif.

The two trains were carrying a combined total of more than 500 passengers, according to Spanish media reports.

The crash is believed to have resulted from an operator error at a railway control center in Madrid, according to preliminary findings cited by El Pais. An operator reportedly authorized the Renfe train to pass a red signal despite another train remaining stationary on the same track.

The suspected mistake followed a malfunction of the railway’s automatic safety system, which forced several trains to stop and required traffic controllers to manage movements manually. Investigators are still working to establish the exact cause.

Images shared online show overturned and badly damaged carriages, with emergency crews working at the scene.

Source: Social media

Castilla-La Mancha regional President Emiliano Garcia-Page has requested assistance from Spain’s Military Emergency Unit. Adif has suspended high-speed rail traffic between Madrid and Andalusia. Iryo said it activated all emergency protocols.

Wednesday’s disaster is the latest in a series of serious railway accidents in Spain this year, raising concerns over the safety of the country’s rail network. On January 18, two high-speed trains collided near Adamuz in the southern province of Cordoba, killing 46 people and injuring more than 150. Investigators have identified a broken section of track as the likely cause, although the investigation is ongoing.

Just two days later, a commuter train struck a collapsed retaining wall near Barcelona, killing the driver and injuring dozens. Another passenger train collided with a crane near Cartagena on January 22, injuring six, and a collision at a level crossing in February reportedly left one person dead.

The incidents have fueled concerns over railway infrastructure and maintenance standards, prompting demands for stronger safety measures. The Spanish train drivers’ union (SEMAF) has called a nationwide strike for Thursday, October 29, accusing Renfe and the Transport Ministry of failing to implement safety improvements promised after the disasters in January. Renfe dismissed the accusations, insisting it has fulfilled its commitments.

The full extent of the casualties and the circumstances surrounding Wednesday’s collision remain under investigation.

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