Second fatal Spanish train crash hits just weeks before election

A high-speed train in central Spain struck a stationary train from behind on Wednesday, killing 68 people and injuring dozens more.

The crash occurred in the province of Toledo, near the town of Urda. It marks the second deadly rail disaster in the country this year. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the site after regional officials confirmed the death toll exceeded 60. The collision happened on a stretch of track lined with olive groves, turning a quiet area into a major emergency zone.

Spain’s high-speed rail network is the second largest in the world by track mileage, trailing only China. It had operated for more than three decades without a fatal accident until January. In that incident, a train derailed and hit another, killing 46 people in southern Spain. This year’s crashes have involved a state-owned RENFE train and a privately owned IRYO train. Spain opened its high-speed rail market to private operators in 2021, with IRYO beginning service the following year.

Transport minister Óscar Puente explained that a computer malfunction caused a security system to fail on a 63-kilometer stretch of track at 8:30 a.m. All trains stopped. The IRYO train halted near Urda, while the RENFE train stopped 25 kilometers behind it. Minutes later, central command instructed the RENFE train to proceed without speed limits. The two trains collided at 8:53 a.m. Puente stated that the train should have remained stopped due to an active stop signal, or moved at a reduced speed if it had been cleared to go.

Sánchez declared three days of national mourning starting Thursday. He pledged an investigation and improvements to the system, which carried 45 million travelers last year. “It is not acceptable for a country like Spain to endure two high-speed train accidents in the same year,” Sánchez said. He added that the government must reinforce safety to rebuild trust in the rail service.

The timing of the crash complicates the political landscape ahead of the national election scheduled for early November. Sánchez called for early votes this month, hoping to capitalize on public frustration with housing costs and high rents. Polls indicate his Socialist party faces a difficult campaign. Right-wing rivals are expected to press the issue of rail safety alongside other criticisms of his administration.

Popular Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo demanded a full investigation. He said his party canceled campaign events for the day to respect the victims. “This is the moment to respect the dead, the injured and their families,” Feijóo said. Far-right Vox leader Santiago Abascal was less restrained. He called the government a criminal organization and promised to work until it answered for its actions. Puente, when asked if he would resign, said he was focused on dealing with the collision rather than his future.

Emergency workers, firefighters, police, and soldiers worked through Wednesday night to rescue survivors and recover bodies. Cranes began moving damaged train parts late in the day. The next step is a formal investigation into why central command issued the order to move the RENFE train.