Spain's ADIF says one train rear-ended another in Toledo crash that killed 30
Officials say two high-speed trains heading from Madrid to Seville crashed in central Spain on Wednesday morning.
By Anthony Foster ·
At least 30 people died when two high-speed trains collided in central Spain on Wednesday.
The Castilla La Mancha regional press office confirmed the death toll. This marks the second fatal rail accident in the country this year.
ADIF, the state body that manages Spain’s railway infrastructure, said the crash occurred just after 9 a.m. local time in Toledo province. Officials described the incident as a rear-end collision. Esther Padilla, a spokeswoman for the regional government, told state broadcaster TVE that one train ran into the back of another that had stopped on the line. Both trains were traveling in the same direction from Madrid toward Seville. The impact knocked two cars of the stationary train off the tracks. Padilla said investigators had not yet determined the cause.
Passengers reported being on board the two trains involved. The state-owned Renfe service carried 397 people. The private Iryo service carried 147 passengers. Miguel, a passenger in the rear car of one train, described the moment of impact to COPE radio. He said he heard a massive roar and a thud that lasted about 10 seconds. He looked out the right-hand window and saw the wrecked train next to him.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he was deeply saddened by the accident. He wrote on X that emergency services are working on site to assist those affected. He added that he extends his heartfelt sympathy to the victims and their families.
Manuel Galan, the mayor of Urda near Toledo, said emergency services asked him to prepare a local sports hall for the injured. Renfe established an emergency phone line for families. Iryo, an Italian-owned company, said it activated its security protocols and is working closely with authorities.
The crash occurred on the same Madrid-Seville line as a January collision involving the same two operators. That accident left 45 people dead when a train jumped the track and hit an oncoming train. It was the deadliest rail crash in Spain since 2013. Spain operates the largest high-speed rail network in Europe for trains moving faster than 155 mph, with more than 1,900 miles of track.
