Investigation launched into second fatal accident on Madrid – Andalucía high speed line this year

SPAIN: Investigations have begun into a collision between two high speed trains near Toledo that has left at least 10 people dead, according to early reports. The incident occurred on the same high speed corridor as the fatal accident at Adamuz earlier this year. 

The collision south of Toledo occurred shortly before 09.00 local time on October 28 on the section of the Madrid – Córdoba high speed line between Los Yébenes and Urda. Local mayor Manuel Galán told regional media that there were many casualties.

A spokesperson for the Castilla-La Mancha provincial government said that the accident had resulted in the deaths of at least 10 people, but that this will ‘almost certainly increase’ as emergency rescue work continues. Spanish media outlets have already reported that the crash has led to dozens of deaths.

En el centro de control H24 desde 9:40 tratando de obtener toda la información posible de lo ocurrido.

— Óscar Puente (@oscar_puente_)

El País has reported that a Renfe high speed train collided with the rear of an Iryo high speed train, causing vehicles from the Iryo train to derail and fall down an embankment. Images from the scene indicate that the Renfe service was formed of a Siemens Mobility Series 103 Velaro high speed train, while Iryo operates a fleet of Hitachi Rail-supplied ETR1000 Frecciarossa trainsets.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was ‘shocked by the serious train accident in Toledo’, saying he remains in constant contact with the Minister of Transport Óscar Puente and with the president of Castilla-La Mancha. ‘My affection, solidarity, and support to all the victims and their families.’

The accident is the second serious crash on the Spanish high speed rail network this year, following January’s collision between a Renfe service and an Iryo train at Adamuz in which 46 people were killed. The formal investigation into that incident remains ongoing.

• The Spanish government earlier this year confirmed long-standing plans to restructure the bodies responsible for investigating transport accidents. These reforms have sen CIAF, which has been leading the inquiry into the Adamuz crash, replaced by a multimodal agency known as the Independent Administrative Authority for the Technical Investigation of Railway, Maritime and Civil Aviation Accidents & Incidents.