Spain has declared three days of national mourning as the death toll from yesterday’s train collision rises to 68, with dozens more injured.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the government would act urgently to establish what caused the crash, which involved two passenger trains travelling in the same direction on the high-speed line from Madrid to Seville.
The trains, operated by Renfe and Iryo, were carrying 544 people in total. One train struck the rear of the other, which had stopped, knocking several carriages off the track.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente said an initial review of the evidence pointed to an ‘inexplicable’ decision to order trains to continue after a signalling failure, suggesting possible human error.
According to Spanish newspaper El País, a controller instructed the AVE driver to resume at normal speed while the Iryo train remained stopped around 15 miles ahead.
The AVE train is reported to have reached around 200km/h (124mph) before hitting the rear of the stationary Iryo train.
The Iryo driver had told controllers she was unable to restart her train, but the AVE driver was not subsequently warned to brake, according to the report.
The PM said his government would act urgently to ‘clarify what has happened, why this tragedy occurred’ and address any safety failures with the ‘utmost firmness’.
He said Spain must strengthen safety on its high-speed rail network to rebuild public confidence, adding: “This is essential, as it is unacceptable for a country like Spain to experience two high-speed rail accidents in a single year.”
Spain will observe three days of national mourning, with flags flying at half-mast across the country, following the country’s deadliest rail crash since 2013.
The UK Foreign Office issued an update yesterday: “On 28 October, two high-speed trains collided between the towns of Mora and Orgaz, in the province of Toledo.
“Significant disruption to rail services is expected. If you need assistance or information about affected passengers, contact RENFE on +34 900 10 10 20.
“If you are a British national and you or a family member have been affected by the accident and need consular support, call the nearest British embassy or consulate on +34 91 714 6300.”
The collision continues to disrupt rail travel between Madrid and Andalucía today, with no confirmed date for the full reopening of the high-speed corridor, which connects destinations such as Córdoba, Seville and Málaga.
While some unaffected sections of the railway remain operational, passengers are advised to check the latest updates with their transport operator before travelling.
Renfe has announced it is offering free ticket changes or cancellations to affected passengers.
