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Two high-speed trains collide in central Spain, killing dozens

Summarised from 20 outlets · 28 reports · Updated 28 Oct, 11:21 · Archive

Two high-speed trains collided near Toledo in central Spain on Wednesday morning, with death tolls varying widely between sources.

Two high-speed trains collided on Spain's main railway line between Madrid and Andalusia on Wednesday morning, causing significant casualties and prompting the suspension of services on the route.

The collision occurred shortly after 9am between the towns of Urda and Los Yébenes in Toledo province. A Renfe AVE high-speed train travelling from Madrid to Seville struck the rear of an Iryo train that was stationary on the same track. The impact caused two carriages of the Iryo train to derail and fall down an embankment. The Renfe train was carrying 397 passengers and the Iryo train 147 passengers.

Authorities reported significant casualties, though death tolls varied between sources as information continued to emerge. Multiple outlets confirmed at least 10 people had been killed, with regional government spokeswoman Esther Padilla telling Spanish broadcaster TVE that the toll was likely to rise. However, Metro, GB News, The Mirror, The i Paper and Independent World reported that local authorities had told them at least 39 people had died, whilst DW News reported at least 30 deaths.

Spanish Health Minister Mónica García told broadcaster TVE that it was a "high-speed impact" and "a major tragedy", warning it was too soon to confirm a final casualty figure. She said: "We don't just need help from nearby hospitals, we need nearby hospitals that have ICU beds." Numerous passengers and witnesses reported injuries, with emergency medical teams arriving at the scene.

Images from the scene showed severely damaged train carriages flipped on their side after tumbling down the embankment. A passenger named Miguel told local radio station COPE: "We heard a massive roar, a truly enormous thud that went on for 10 seconds as if the train were about to derail. Through the right-hand window, we could see a wrecked train – I imagine it must have been the other one."

Emergency services deployed three medical helicopters, two mobile intensive care units, fire crews from surrounding towns and police to the scene. Manuel Galán, mayor of Urda, said civil protection authorities had asked his town to prepare a sports hall to accommodate the injured. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez cancelled his engagements and said he remained in constant contact with Transport Minister Óscar Puente and regional president Emiliano García-Page.

The cause of the collision was not immediately known. CNBC reported that government sources and local media suggested initial analyses pointed to human error, with an Adif operator potentially making a mistake when automated railway signalling systems failed. Rail operator Adif suspended all traffic on the Madrid-Andalusia high-speed rail line following the incident.

This was Spain's second major rail tragedy in 2026, following a collision in January near Adamuz in southern Spain that killed 45 or 46 people. That earlier accident had raised sharp criticism of the government's Transport Minister Óscar Puente and concerns about safety on Spain's extensive high-speed rail network.

Two high-speed trains collide in central Spain, killing dozens
Image: Euronews

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In this story: Spain · Toledo · Madrid · Seville · Renfe · Iryo · Adif · Pedro Sánchez

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log