Spain Investigates Fatal Train Collision as Search Continues

Spanish authorities are investigating a signaling failure and decisions made by railway controllers after two high-speed trains collided near Urda, in the central region of Castilla-La Mancha, shortly before 9 a.m. on Wednesday, October 28, killing 68 people and injuring dozens. The Renfe and Iryo trains were traveling south from Madrid when one struck the rear of the other, sending several carriages off the tracks.

Spain began three days of national mourning on Thursday as emergency crews continued searching the wreckage for victims and hospitals treated injured passengers. According to officials cited by The Guardian, 107 people received hospital treatment after the collision, including 15 who were in serious condition.

The state-owned Renfe train carried 397 passengers, while the privately operated Iryo train had 147 on board, according to the BBC. Authorities were still working to identify victims, and relatives had reported 64 people missing by Thursday morning, according to the Civil Guard figures reported by The Guardian.

Spain's Transport Minister Óscar Puente said a computer malfunction disrupted the automatic signaling system at approximately 8:30 a.m., forcing an estimated six trains to stop along a 63-kilometer stretch of track. Control of train movements then passed to a railway command center in Madrid.

Puente said the center subsequently authorized trains to resume operating without speed restrictions, although a train remained stopped ahead. He described the decision as a serious failure in the handling of the disruption.

"Clearly, it was a wrong decision," said Óscar Puente, Spain's transport minister.

Audio recordings published by Spanish media outlets, including El País and RTVE, have added detail to the sequence of events. In one recording, a controller instructs the Renfe driver to continue at normal speed using an alternative signaling procedure. The driver asks whether normal speed is permitted, and the controller confirms that it is.

A separate recording captures the Iryo driver telling the control center that communication with the train's control system has been lost and that the train remains stationary at Urda. In a later exchange, the driver reports being unable to operate the onboard safety system, indicating that the train has not moved.

The recordings suggest the control center had been informed that the Iryo train remained stopped as the Renfe train approached. Iryo said its train, carrying 147 passengers, was struck from behind by the Renfe service.

Rescue teams worked overnight under floodlights, using cranes, drones and helicopters to search damaged carriages and remove debris. Authorities deployed hundreds of personnel, while the Civil Guard established offices in Madrid, Toledo, Córdoba and Seville to collect DNA samples and help relatives identify missing family members.

Esther Padilla, a spokesperson for the regional government of Castilla-La Mancha, said the search remained incomplete because rescuers could not yet rule out the possibility of additional victims trapped inside the wreckage.

"Rescue teams are still working very carefully, because we still can't say with certainty that there are no more victims trapped in the twisted wreckage," said Esther Padilla, a spokesperson for the regional government of Castilla-La Mancha.

A school in Urda was converted into an information center for relatives seeking updates. The Civil Guard also arranged assistance for families providing DNA samples, while blood donation points were established in Castilla-La Mancha and Madrid.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the country was mourning the victims and pledged a thorough investigation. He also highlighted the seriousness of two fatal high-speed rail disasters occurring in Spain within the same year.

"It is unacceptable for a country like Spain to suffer two high-speed train accidents in the same year, as we have," said Pedro Sánchez, Spain's prime minister.

The earlier collision occurred near Adamuz, in the southern region of Andalucía, in January and killed 46 people. The two disasters have intensified scrutiny of Spain's high-speed rail network and raised questions about signaling systems, operational procedures and railway safety oversight.

Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the opposition People's Party, called for an immediate investigation and a comprehensive independent review of the country's rail network. He said the public deserved answers about the condition and management of the infrastructure.

"Spain has the right to know what is going on with its infrastructure," said Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of Spain's People's Party.

Political parties suspended most campaigning following the collision, while protests outside the Transport Ministry in Madrid called for government resignations. Spanish media reported that police used tear gas after demonstrators threw bottles and flares; no injuries or arrests were reported.

The far-right Vox party continued its political activities. Its leader, Santiago Abascal, criticized the state of Spain's infrastructure and rejected calls to suspend criticism of the government during the mourning period.

Railway drivers also proceeded with a previously planned strike on Thursday. The Spanish Union of Railway Drivers, known as Semaf, said the action was intended to defend railway safety as investigators continued examining the circumstances surrounding the collision.