Spain train collision kills at least 68 as investigators examine safety system failure

Toledo, Spain, October 29, 2026 — At least 68 people have died and dozens more have been injured after two high-speed trains collided in central Spain, in one of the country’s deadliest railway disasters in recent years.

The crash occurred on Wednesday morning near Urda, in Toledo province, around 140 kilometres south of Madrid. A train operated by Spain’s state-owned Renfe railway company struck the rear of a stationary train run by private operator Iryo. Several carriages derailed, with some falling down an embankment.

The Iryo train had 147 passengers on board, while the Renfe train was carrying 397 passengers. The regional government of Castilla-La Mancha confirmed the death toll, and dozens of injured passengers required medical attention. Rescue teams continued searching the wreckage as authorities worked to identify victims, with DNA samples expected to be needed in some cases.

Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente said a computer malfunction had disrupted a safety system along a 63-kilometre stretch of railway, causing trains in the area to stop. He said a central control centre subsequently instructed the Renfe train to resume movement without speed restrictions, despite a stop signal remaining active.

Puente described the decision as “inexplicable” and said the incident involved a computer failure followed by human error. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the collision.