Spain's Rail Crash Kills 64 as High-Speed Lines Face Scrutiny

At least 64 people died Wednesday morning when a high-speed train struck the rear of another train that had stopped on the tracks in central Spain. The collision occurred in the province of Toledo, between the towns of Urda and Los Yébenes, derailing two cars and scattering debris across a flat stretch of olive fields. Authorities confirmed the toll had risen as rescue workers continued searching the wreckage for survivors and bodies.

The accident involved two trains heading in the same direction from Madrid to Seville. One was operated by Spain's state-owned RENFE, while the other belonged to IRYO, an Italian-owned private carrier. Spanish media reported that the RENFE train rammed the IRYO train. Regional president Emiliano García-Page said 24 passengers died in the RENFE car and six in the IRYO car. A total of 397 passengers were aboard the RENFE train and 147 on the IRYO service. García-Page stated that at least 80 people were injured, with casualties being transported to various hospitals in the area.

Passenger Ignacio Relaño, traveling on the RENFE train, told state broadcaster TVE that the train slowed abruptly before the impact. He described the car leaning as if it were about to tip over, noting that luggage and phones flew through the air. Health Minister Mónica García said emergency workers focused on the two most damaged cars, describing the collision as a high-speed impact that was expected to be a tragedy. A military emergency brigade was deployed to assist firefighters, police, and medical helicopters.

This is the second major train accident in Spain this year. In January, a IRYO train jumped the tracks and hit an oncoming RENFE train in southern Spain, killing 46 people. That incident was the deadliest in the country since 2013. The January crash followed the recent opening of Spain's rail network to private competition. IRYO began operating in Spain in 2022. Joan Rodríguez, a spokesperson for the train workers' union, told TVE that increased traffic from privatization has put strain on infrastructure. He said the liberalization of service was not matched by necessary upkeep, though he did not identify it as the determining factor in the crashes.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez canceled his agenda to focus on the crash. He wrote on X that he was dismayed by the accident and that emergency services were working on site. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia issued a statement expressing sadness and concern, sharing in the grief of the families. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe mourned with the victims. Spain's soccer federation postponed all 24 Copa del Rey games scheduled for Wednesday.

Spain has invested heavily in high-speed rail over three decades, laying 3,900 kilometers of track for its 49 million residents. Only China has more high-speed track. Rail service between Madrid, Ciudad Real, and Andalusia was suspended following the crash. The cause of the accident has not yet been determined.