The collision occurred in the Toledo region, and the initial reports indicate dozens of dead and injured. Rescue teams, including helicopters, have already been dispatched to the scene.
At least 30 people dead and dozens injured is the initial toll from the accident that occurred in Spain shortly after 9 a.m. local time, at kilometre 118 of the railway line between Madrid and Andalusia, near the towns of Mora, Orgaz and Urda, in the province of Toledo. Involved in the collision were a Renfe AVE train (operated by the state-owned railway company), travelling between the capital and Seville, and a train operated by Iryo, both of which were running on the same line.
The regional government of Castile-La Mancha initially confirmed 10 fatalities through its spokesperson, Esther Padilla, according to the Europa Press news agency. The death toll has since been updated to 46, according to Cadena SER, although this figure has not yet been officially confirmed. “El País” reports 30 deaths, citing information released by the government of Castile-La Mancha. Authorities fear that the death toll could rise.
According to “El País”, the Renfe train had slowed down and stopped minutes before the accident due to a traffic problem on the line. Information published by the newspaper, based on sources from Spain’s emergency services, indicates that two carriages fell down an embankment following the collision. The two trains were carrying a total of 545 passengers, according to information provided by the same spokesperson to TVE and cited by “El País”. According to the official, the Renfe train was carrying 397 passengers, while the Iryo train had 147 passengers and a baby on board.
A signalling fault may have caused the railway accident in Toledo.
Initial information about the cause of the accident points to a possible human error associated with a malfunction in the railway signalling system. According to the newspaper “ABC”, citing sources at Spain’s Ministry of Transport, a technician was reportedly working on a fault in the main signalling system, which allegedly failed to alert the Renfe AVE train to the presence of the Iryo train, which was stopped on the same track.
Initial theories reported by the Spanish press also indicate that both trains may have been stationary and that the AVE was instructed to resume its journey without the driver being properly informed that the Iryo train remained stopped immediately ahead.
The AVE is then believed to have collided with the rear of the Iryo train, causing several carriages to derail, with some falling down an embankment.
If this sequence of events is confirmed, the accident may be linked to a failure in safety and communication procedures during work on the signalling system. However, the exact circumstances of the accident, the operation of the automatic protection systems and any individual responsibility remain subject to investigation.
Initial reports published by Spanish media indicated that rescue teams had been dispatched to the scene of the accident. According to information from the emergency services cited by the EFE news agency and reproduced by laSexta, firefighters, Civil Protection personnel and medical assistance teams were at the scene, including helicopters and emergency medical care units.
Spain’s Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, was informed of the accident while attending an event in Madrid and left the venue. High-speed rail services between Madrid and Andalusia have been suspended, according to Adif, the company responsible for Spain’s railway infrastructure.
Source: The Guardian
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