A high-speed train collision in Spain's Toledo province has killed 69 people, including one Canadian and four Americans, following a signaling failure.
Authorities have confirmed that one Canadian is among the 69 people killed in a high-speed rail collision in Spain. The accident occurred on Wednesday, October 28, in the province of Toledo, near the towns of Mora and Orgaz, according to ADIF, Spain’s rail system operator.
The collision involved two high-speed trains traveling in the same direction from Madrid to Seville in southwestern Spain. A train operated by the state-owned RENFE company struck the rear of another train operated by the private company IRYO that was stopped on the tracks. The impact caused the derailment of two carriages on the tail of the IRYO train and the front of the RENFE train.
Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente stated the crash was caused by what he called an “inexplicable” order from a central command centre for Spain’s trains after a security system had failed. Puente said the train engineers were not to blame and noted that the train never should have been told to start moving again, since there was still a “stop signal” active on that line, and that it should at least have been told to go at a reduced speed.
As of late Sunday, authorities had identified 66 of the 69 victims. Spanish officials reported that 54 of those killed were Spanish nationals. The identified foreign victims include:
Authorities are still working to identify three other bodies. Additionally, three people are reported missing: two Australians and one from Japan.
Global Affairs Canada confirmed the death of one Canadian and previously stated that six Canadians were injured in the crash, though no update on their status was provided on Monday. "Canadian officials are providing consular assistance and are in contact with local authorities to gather more information. Due to privacy considerations, no further information can be disclosed," Global Affairs Canada said in a statement.
More than 100 people were treated for injuries.
This incident marks Spain's second deadly high-speed train crash this year. In January, a high-speed train derailed and was struck by a second train in the southern region of Andalusia, killing 46 people and injuring 292 others. Prior to this year, there had been no fatal crashes on Spain’s dedicated high-speed lines since the network opened in 1992.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called for increased safety measures to restore confidence in the rail system. The collision occurred one month before the November 29 general election, in which Sánchez is seeking to extend his eight-year premiership. According to reports, the incident has led to questions regarding railway safety and infrastructure investments under his government.
The collision has shaken confidence in the Spanish rail network, which carried approximately 45 million travelers last year. The investigation into the signaling failure and the command center's decision to authorize movement while a stop signal was active is ongoing.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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