64 Killed as High-Speed Train Strikes Stopped Rival in Toledo

At least 64 people died Wednesday morning when a high-speed train rear-ended a stopped competitor on a flat stretch of track between the towns of Urda and Los Yébenes in the province of Toledo. Regional President Emiliano García-Page reported that at least 80 others were injured as rescue teams combed through the wreckage. The crash occurred between two trains traveling in the same direction from Madrid to Seville. One car was shredded into metal fragments, scattering debris down a nearby gravel slope.

The incident marks the second major train accident in Spain in 2026. In January, 46 people died when an IRYO train derailed and struck an oncoming RENFE train in southern Spain. That previous collision was the deadliest in the country since a 2013 crash that claimed 80 lives. The recurrence of fatal accidents has shaken public confidence in a rail system that has long been a source of national pride.

Spanish rail operator ADIF confirmed the collision involved a state-owned RENFE train and a private IRYO train. Spanish media reported that the RENFE vehicle struck the IRYO train, which had halted on the line. Esther Padilla, spokesperson for the Castilla La Mancha region, stated that 397 passengers were aboard the RENFE train and 147 were on the IRYO train. García-Page broke down the death toll by carrier, citing 24 fatalities in the RENFE car and six in the IRYO car.

Passenger Ignacio Relaño, who rode the RENFE train, described the moment of impact to state broadcaster TVE. He recalled the train slowing abruptly before the collision. "The car leaned to one side like it was about to tip over," he said. "I hit my nose, everything went flying, luggage, cell phones. Everything shook." Health Minister Mónica García noted the high speed of the impact, saying she expected a tragedy. Injured passengers were transported to various regional hospitals, while a military emergency brigade assisted firefighters and police at the scene.

Spain has built a vast high-speed network over three decades, laying approximately 3,900 kilometers of track for its 49 million residents. Only China has a larger network. The country recently opened its rail market to private competition. IRYO, an Italian-owned operator, began running services in Spain in 2022. Union spokesperson Joan Rodríguez told TVE that the increase in traffic from privatization has strained the infrastructure. "We are not convinced that the liberalization of the high-speed passenger rail service was matched by the necessary upkeep of the lines," Rodríguez said. He added that the increased use of the network is a factor to keep in mind.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez canceled his schedule to focus on the accident. He posted on X that he was dismayed by the crash and that emergency services were working to attend to affected passengers. The national soccer federation postponed all 24 Copa del Rey matches scheduled for Wednesday. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia issued a statement expressing their sadness and concern for the victims and their families. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also offered condolences, stating that Europe mourns with Spain.

Rail service between Madrid, Ciudad Real, and Andalusia remains suspended. Authorities have not yet determined the specific cause of the crash. The local mayor of Urda, Manuel Galán, said civil protection officials asked his town hall to prepare a sports pavilion to treat injured passengers. IRYO stated it has activated its security protocols and is working closely with authorities.