Spain train collision death toll rises to at least 64

Europe-Asia, International

TOLEDO, Spain (NPA) —At least 64 people have died after two high-speed trains collided in Spain’s central Toledo province on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, as rescue workers continued searching the wreckage for more victims.

The collision occurred near Urda, along the Madrid-Seville high-speed rail corridor, in the country’s second deadly railway accident this year. Reuters reported that several carriages derailed, with at least three plunging down an embankment. 

The crash involved a train operated by private rail consortium Iryo and another operated by state-owned rail company Renfe. According to a person briefed on the incident, the Iryo train had stopped following a signal fault and instructions from rail infrastructure manager Adif before the Renfe train struck it at high speed.

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Renfe said its train had been authorised to continue its journey before the collision, but the Iryo train remained stationary for reasons that were not yet known.

“The exact sequence of events, the traffic conditions and the circumstances of the impact will have to be established by the investigation,” Renfe said in a statement. 

Emergency crews, including firefighters, police officers, medical teams and specialist rescue personnel, were deployed to the scene. Ambulances and helicopters transported injured passengers to hospitals, while rescuers examined the wreckage for additional victims.

The trains were carrying hundreds of passengers when the collision occurred. The impact left twisted metal and broken panels scattered around the scene, with several carriages severely damaged.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed shock over the tragedy and said the government was monitoring the emergency response. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia also conveyed their condolences to the victims and their families, while emergency services continued rescue and recovery operations. 

Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the collision, including the reported signalling fault and the authorisation for the Renfe train to proceed while the Iryo service remained on the track.

Authorities have yet to establish the precise sequence of events or determine responsibility. The investigation is expected to examine the operation of the railway’s safety systems, communications between train operators and infrastructure controllers, and the decisions taken before the impact.

Rail infrastructure operator Adif suspended services on the Madrid-Andalusia high-speed line following the collision, disrupting journeys between Madrid and destinations in southern Spain. 

The disaster has renewed concerns about railway safety in Spain, following another deadly high-speed train collision near Adamuz in Córdoba province in January, which killed 46 people.

Rescue and investigative teams continued working at the Toledo crash site as the country mourned the victims and authorities sought to establish what led to the collision.