Two Australians killed in Spanish train crash

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 3 Nov, 21:20 · Archive

Two Australians were among 69 people killed when a high-speed train collided with a stationary train in Spain on 28 October.

Two Australians have been confirmed among 69 people killed in a high-speed train crash in Spain. The collision occurred on 28 October near the town of Urda, 130km south of Madrid, and left almost 200 others injured. The train operated by state-owned rail company Renfe crashed into the back of a stationary train operated by private company Iryo, which was carrying more than 500 people.

The victims have not been named for privacy reasons. Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed the deaths on Wednesday and said it was providing consular assistance to the families. Local authorities confirmed that 54 of the 69 killed were Spanish citizens, and said no further victims are expected to be found.

Spanish authorities are under pressure to establish the cause of the crash. Published audio recordings of interactions between train drivers and a control centre showed that the control centre had ordered the Renfe train to resume its journey while all other trains on the line were kept stationary due to a faulty safety system. This is the second deadly railway accident in Spain this year, following a crash in Andalusia in January that killed 46 people.

How it is being reported

• Two Australians killed in Spanish train crashTwo Australians have been confirmed to be among the 69 killed in a high-speed train crash in Spain last week.Perth Now · 3 Nov, 21:10
• Two Australians killed in Spanish train crashTwo Australians have been confirmed to be among the 69 killed in a high-speed train crash in Spain last week.The West Australian · 3 Nov, 21:10

In this story: Spain · Urda · Madrid · Renfe · Iryo · Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade · Andalusia

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