The Spanish government has suggested that human error may be the primary cause behind a tragic collision involving two high-speed trains in Urda, near Toledo, on Wednesday. The accident resulted in a death toll ranging from 30 to 50, with numerous injuries reported by various Spanish media outlets.
The crash took place at 8:54 a.m. at the 119.7 km mark on the Madrid-Seville line, where a Renfe AVE train carrying 397 passengers collided from behind with a stationary Iryo train that had 147 passengers on board. The impact led to the derailment of four carriages, two of which tumbled down an embankment.
Throughout the morning, the number of casualties fluctuated. Emiliano García-Page, President of Castilla-La Mancha, confirmed at least 30 fatalities—24 from the AVE and six from the Iryo—and 50 seriously injured individuals. Regional emergency services later raised the count to 39 dead, with Civil Protection sources estimating at least 46. Subsequent, unconfirmed reports pointed to over 50 fatalities and more than 179 injured.
The incident began at 8:30 a.m. when a malfunction disabled the primary LZB signaling system, which continuously monitors train speed and spacing, and can enforce automatic braking. Consequently, operations shifted to the alternative BSL (Block Line Lateral Signaling) system, which identifies occupied tracks but lacks continuous supervision capabilities.
Iryo sources clarified that their train detected a malfunction and halted at 8:38 a.m. due to a blank signal, promptly notifying Adif's Control and Regulation Center in Atocha. "At 8:48 a.m., for unknown reasons, train service 6076 was struck from the rear by Renfe's train 103," they reported.
According to sources referenced by elDiario.es, a control center operator at Adif may have mistakenly authorized the AVE to proceed despite the Iryo occupying the track and the signal being red, allowing the engineer to pass this indication.
An investigation by El Mundo revealed that Iryo had informed Adif of its status 10 minutes prior to the collision, but the AVE, instead of slowing down, crashed into the stationary train at speeds exceeding 100 kilometers per hour. "The impact between the AVE's leading engine and the rear car of the halted Iryo must have been devastating," remarked accident investigation technicians cited by the newspaper.
José María Goicolea, a member of the Association of Civil Engineers, told RTVE that "the only plausible explanation is a LZB failure, operation under ASFA, and a human mistake," though he cautioned that "these are speculations." Railway sources consulted by El Independiente were more explicit: "For the second train to have intercepted the first, the signal must have been green."
Óscar Carballo, the general secretary of the College of Public Works Engineers, urged caution in RNE statements: "If it's a collision, it's unusual because trains shouldn't collide. The signaling and the way rail operations are organized prevent such incidents."
President Pedro Sánchez canceled his schedule and that of his ministers, while Transport Minister Óscar Puente visited Adif's control center in Atocha. Adif has suspended all traffic on the Madrid-Andalucía line, and Renfe is offering free changes and cancellations.
The Urda disaster marks the second major high-speed train accident in Spain within a year. The previous incident occurred in January 2026 in Adamuz (Córdoba) and also involved an Iryo train, resulting in 46 deaths, including a Cuban national. The Madrid-Seville line, launched in 1992 with the LZB system, is slated for an upgrade to the more advanced European ERTMS system, but this transition is not yet complete.
Key Questions About the Toledo Train Collision
What caused the train collision near Toledo?
The collision is believed to have been caused by a human error, where an operator may have mistakenly allowed a train to proceed despite a red signal, leading to a rear-end crash.
How many people were affected by the train accident?
The accident resulted in a death toll estimated between 30 and 50, with over 179 people injured.
What was the response from Spanish authorities after the accident?
President Pedro Sánchez and other government officials canceled their schedules, and the Transport Minister visited the control center. Adif halted services on the affected line, and Renfe offered free changes and cancellations.