At least 68 people were killed on Wednesday, October 28, when a high-speed Renfe AVE train rear-ended a stationary Iryo train on the Madrid–Seville line near Urda, in Spain's central province of Toledo — one of the deadliest rail accidents in the country's history.
Castilla-La Mancha regional President Emiliano García-Page confirmed the death toll, according to Spanish news agency EFE. More than 100 people were injured, 15 of them seriously, Spanish media reported. Officials warned the death toll could rise as rescuers reached the most severely damaged carriages.
AVE Strikes Stationary Train at High Speed Near Urda
Spain's rail infrastructure operator ADIF said the crash occurred at approximately 8:54 a.m. on Wednesday. A Renfe AVE struck the rear of the Iryo train on a flat stretch of olive fields between Urda and Los Yébenes, knocking two carriages off the track. One carriage was torn apart, and debris was scattered down a gravel slope.
The two trains were carrying a combined 544 passengers, both travelling south from Madrid to Seville. Both services were on the same track when the collision occurred.
Signalling System Failure Preceded the Collision
Transport Minister Óscar Puente told reporters that a computer failure knocked out the line's LZB signalling and safety system. The failure triggered an automatic stop for all trains along a 63-kilometre stretch, with train control transferred to ADIF's centre at Madrid's Atocha station.
According to Puente, at 8:36 a.m. — 17 minutes before impact — the control centre authorized the AVE to resume normal running, even though a red signal was still showing that the Iryo train occupied the track ahead. Puente described the decision as "inexplicable" and said the AVE may have reached up to 200 kilometres per hour before impact.
Puente acknowledged that it was not yet precisely known what happened in those 17 minutes between the authorization and the collision. He ruled out resigning over the incident.
Guardia Civil Questions ADIF Operator
Spain's Guardia Civil has questioned the ADIF operator who authorized the AVE to depart, according to Spanish outlet Demócrata. The operator's decision to clear the AVE despite the active red signal is at the center of the early investigation.
The Sindicato Ferroviario rail union cautioned against rushing to conclusions, stating it was irresponsible to attribute the crash to human error before the formal investigation was complete.
Iryo Disputes Sequence of Events
Sources close to Iryo told Spanish media that the driver of its train had requested permission from the control centre to move but never received a reply. The driver was still waiting for instructions when the AVE struck from behind.
In an official statement, Iryo confirmed that its service 6076 had been struck from behind near Urda. The company said the cause remained unknown and that it was cooperating with ADIF, Renfe, and the authorities.
Military Units Deployed, Urda Prepares Shelter
A military emergency brigade was deployed to support firefighters, police, and medical teams at the crash site. Urda Mayor Manuel Galán said civil protection authorities had asked the town to prepare a sports pavilion to receive injured passengers.
Hospitals in Ciudad Real and Alcázar de San Juan issued appeals for blood donations as they managed the influx of casualties.
Three Days of National Mourning Declared
The Spanish government declared three days of official mourning, published in the Boletín Oficial del Estado. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez cancelled his schedule to focus on the emergency response.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia said they were deeply saddened and expressed their support for the families of the victims and those injured. Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo called for an immediate government investigation into the crash.
Madrid–Andalusia High-Speed Services Suspended
High-speed rail services between Madrid and Andalusia were suspended following the collision. Operator Ouigo halted all its trains on the corridor until at least Monday, November 2, according to reports from Spanish media.
Spain's Second Deadly High-Speed Rail Crash in Nine Months
The Urda collision is described as one of the deadliest rail accidents in Spain's history and marks the second deadly high-speed rail crash in the country within nine months, underscoring growing scrutiny of the nation's rail safety systems and operational protocols.
Photo credit: Photo via EFE/Spanish media pool
Updated October 29, 2026: The number of injured has been updated to more than 100, citing later Spanish media reports.