High-speed train collision in Spain leaves at least 10 dead
Spain train crash: 'At least 10 dead' in high-speed collision
A high-speed train accident in Toledo province, on the line linking Madrid to southern Andalusia, has killed at least 10 people and injured scores more. Passengers evacuated a derailed train near Urda station. Reporting from Madrid, David Sharrock covers the latest death toll and victim details as the story develops.
Passengers evacuate a train that derailed and crashed near Urda station.
- peri-cl
El Pais is reporting they think it was a controller error,
https://elpais.com/espana/2026-10-28/por-que-han-chocado-dos...
An automated system[*] had failed earlier this morning, so controllers were working manually.
[*] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linienzugbeeinflussung ("LZB")
[added translation]: "The LZB safety system, which controls Spain's high-speed rail network, malfunctioned on Wednesday morning, causing about eight trains to come to a halt in the area. The control center then switched to manual control and ordered all trains to resume operation. However, the Iryo, for reasons that remain unclear, was unable to start and remained stationary. And that is where human error came into play, according to these initial hypotheses."
- ricardobayes
I think Spain needs a complete mindset change, to fully come to the 21st century. While there are truly many people who "take their job" seriously, the overall "world of work", and professional standards are very, very low in Spain. Yes, it's a generalization, but anyone living in Spain will tell and complain about bad company practices, no or slow responses, and a general lack of professionalism, in all sectors.
Further than that, almost all problems and tension in Spain would disappear if earnings caught up to at least the European standard.
In short, Spain needs to re-invent its world of professionalism. I'm not saying that it should become like Swizerland overnight but the current mindset is incompatible with the 21st century's complexities. Portugal is currently further along that road.
- andy12_
Just a couple of days ago the Spanish Transport minister appeared in a comedy sketch where he made fun of the current dysfunctional state of the rail system he is responsible of[1]:
> "Due to a system malfunction, the elevator will be out of service longer than usual," the public address system announces. The minister laments, "Oh, for heaven's sake. As if we didn't have enough to deal with already with Renfe."
Very funny minister...
[1] https://www.lasexta.com/programas/cara-show-marc-giro/oscar-...
- motionlessveloc
Every year that passes, Japan's record of zero fatal high-speed train accidents since the Shinkansen was inaugurated in the 1960s becomes more and more incredible, with 10 billion passengers and counting.
(Excluding suicides/people falling on tracks, that is. And that one poor student in 1995 who got stuck in the door of a departing train and was dragged to his death.)
- Scaled
Article is completely pay walled; please consider deleting and reposting with a readable source.
- jsrozner
https://www.reuters.com/world/two-high-speed-trains-rear-end...
Says the Spanish train crash in Jan of this year that killed 46 was the "same operators on the same line."
- Frieren
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20261028-two-high-speed-t...
As of writing the article says 10. Other sources, sadly, indicate up to 39.
- steveBK123
At this point, Spain must have the worst high speed rail safety record in Europe if not.. more broadly?
I am a little surprised doing some light searching that its one of the longest high speed rail systems / highest passenger count HSR systems in Europe?
I've only taken HSR in France & Italy and not been to Spain in over 15 years so was not aware of the build out.