High-speed train collision kills at least 68 in Spain’s 2nd deadly rail crash this year

A high-speed train collided with another that had stopped on the tracks in Spain on Wednesday, resulting in at least 68 deaths and dozens of injuries. This marks the second deadly rail crash in the country this year. The regional government of Castilla La Mancha confirmed the death toll, with 58 people receiving medical treatment at hospitals.

The collision occurred in the central province of Toledo, involving two high-speed trains operated by Spain's state-owned RENFE company and private company IRYO, headed south from Madrid to Seville. The RENFE train struck the rear of the IRYO train, which was stopped at a signal, causing both trains to derail. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the incident as a national tragedy and called for increased safety measures in the country's high-speed rail system.

Transport Minister Óscar Puente stated that the crash was caused by an "inexplicable" decision made by a central command center after a security system malfunction, which led to the RENFE train being restarted despite a stop signal being active. He emphasized that train engineers were not responsible for the accident.

The crash occurred in a flat stretch of the railway surrounded by olive fields, leaving the carriages in disarray and scattering debris down a nearby slope. Over 397 passengers were on the RENFE train and 147 passengers on the IRYO train. Emergency services, including ambulances and medical helicopters, responded to the scene, and Spain's King Felipe VI visited the site to offer condolences to the victims' families and injured individuals.

This incident occurred just nine months after another deadly high-speed train collision in southern Spain, which claimed 46 lives. Prior to this year, Spain had not experienced a fatal crash on its dedicated high-speed lines since the network opened in 1992. Spain is a leader in high-speed rail development.