SPAIN – A high speed train collision in central Spain left at least 30 people dead and dozens injured on Wednesday morning near the town of Urda in Toledo province.
The crash occurred around 9:00 AM local time on the Madrid Seville rail corridor when a state operated Renfe AVE train rear ended a stationary private Iryo train at speeds over 200 km/h. Over 540 passengers were aboard the two trains, with the violent impact reducing several carriages to twisted metal. Emergency services deployed air ambulances and converted a sports hall in Urda into a temporary field hospital.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez canceled his scheduled events to oversee emergency operations, while rail service between Madrid and southern Andalusia remains completely suspended. Investigators are probing potential automatic signaling failures, brake glitches, or human error as rescue crews search for the missing Renfe train driver.
This disaster comes just nine months after another deadly collision between the same two rail operators in Andalusia claimed 46 lives, renewing urgent safety concerns over Spain’s high speed rail infrastructure.
