At least 64 people have been killed and 58 others injured after two high-speed trains collided in central Spain on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, in the second major rail accident on the same line in less than a year.
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The collision occurred in the province of Toledo, where a state-owned Renfe high-speed train crashed into the rear of a stationary train operated by private rail company Iryo, causing several carriages to derail and leaving passengers trapped in the wreckage.
The Castilla-La Mancha regional government confirmed the death toll as rescue workers continued searching through the damaged carriages for survivors.
Earlier, the region’s President, Emiliano García-Page, had said at least 80 people were injured. However, the regional government subsequently put the number of injured passengers at 58.
According to officials, the two trains were travelling in the same direction from Madrid to Seville and were carrying a combined total of 544 passengers.
Esther Padilla, spokeswoman for the Castilla-La Mancha regional government, told Spanish state broadcaster TVE that approximately 397 passengers were aboard the Renfe train, while 147 were travelling on the Iryo train.
She explained that the collision occurred when the Renfe train struck the rear of the Iryo train, which had stopped on the tracks.
Spain’s Transport Minister, Óscar Puente, disclosed that the Renfe train had been authorised to continue its journey despite an active red signal indicating that another train was stationary on the line ahead.
Speaking to journalists in Madrid, Puente explained that the red signal had been activated following a computer communications failure, which automatically brought rail traffic to a halt.
However, he said an erroneous decision was subsequently made to allow the Renfe train to resume its journey, contrary to established safety protocols.
The minister’s explanation raised concerns about compliance with operational safety procedures on Spain’s high-speed railway network.
Survivors described terrifying moments as the trains collided, with passengers hearing a deafening impact before the carriages derailed.
One passenger, identified as Miguel, told Spain’s COPE radio that he was travelling with several colleagues in the rear carriage of one of the trains when the collision occurred.
“We heard a massive roar, a truly enormous thud that went on for 10 seconds, as if the train were about to derail,” he said.
Describing what he witnessed immediately after the impact, Miguel added, “Through the right-hand window, we could see a wrecked train — I imagine it must have been the other one.”
Images from the accident scene showed several train carriages lying on their sides beside the railway tracks, while others were twisted at unusual angles, with some wheels detached from the carriages.
Debris was scattered across the surrounding countryside as emergency responders worked to reach passengers trapped inside the damaged trains.
Residents living near the accident scene also rushed to assist victims before and during the arrival of emergency services.
The disaster prompted a major national emergency response, with rescue teams continuing operations amid concerns that more passengers could be trapped in the wreckage.
The collision has also renewed questions about the safety of Spain’s high-speed railway infrastructure, which has long been regarded as one of Europe’s most advanced rail networks.
The latest accident is the second major collision on the same railway line in less than a year, increasing scrutiny of railway safety procedures, signalling systems and operational decisions.
Authorities are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the communications failure, the decision to authorise the Renfe train to proceed despite the red signal and the events that led to the fatal collision.
Rescue operations remained ongoing as officials continued assessing the full extent of the casualties and damage.
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