Dozens Injured as Two High-Speed Trains Collide in Spain

A collision between two high-speed trains in Spain on Wednesday left dozens of passengers injured and sparked outrage, authorities said. The crash occurred near Mora, approximately 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of Madrid, when a Renfe-operated train collided with the rear of a stationary Iryo train.

The incident unfolded around 9:00 AM local time. The Renfe train, carrying 397 passengers, was traveling on the same line as an Iryo train with 147 passengers. A reported issue with the automatic signaling system had halted all trains on the affected stretch. However, the Renfe train was subsequently ordered to proceed despite the fault.

Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente described the resumption of travel as an "error." The Renfe train then crashed into the back of the stationary Iryo train. Passengers described a terrifying impact, with luggage flying and carriages being destroyed. Some reported seeing smoke and people being thrown from their seats.

"The impact was terrible. You can imagine, the carriage is completely destroyed. All the suitcases are all over the wrecked carriage," said Spanish journalist Roberto Gómez, who was on board the Renfe train and suffered minor injuries. "We were able to help people who had suffered severe blows to their chest and ribs."

Miguel Ángel Pérez, from the last carriage of the Renfe train, told Spanish TV program La Hora de La 1 that the carriage "partially overturned." He added, "Luckily there were few people standing." Passengers reportedly exited the damaged carriages through the windows.

Sebastián Herrero, a passenger on the Iryo train, told El Mundo newspaper that he felt a "terrible, terrible impact" and was thrown forward. "After we fell, there were many people with broken noses, broken arms... We started seeing smoke everywhere."

Another unidentified passenger told Reuters news agency, "Everything was overturned. Some people were thrown into the air. They are very badly injured."

Local residents and emergency services quickly responded to the scene. Volunteers from neighboring towns brought water and assisted with the evacuation of passengers to the nearby town of Urda.

Questions Surrounding the Incident

Questions are being raised about how the accident could have occurred. According to regulations, when a signaling system issue forces a halt, trains are required to proceed at "sight speed" – approximately 40 km/h (25 mph) – allowing drivers to stop if they encounter an obstacle. Officials are investigating the exact order given to the Renfe train driver, whether it was traveling at the typical speed for that section of track (around 200 km/h), and why the system did not prevent the collision when the stationary Iryo train was detected on the same line.

Passengers expressed anger and confusion over the sequence of events. "It isn't possible that our train was stopped for five or 10 minutes and that the other train wasn't told to stop," one passenger stated. "How can this happen with the technology we have? It's not normal. We weren't told anything."

This incident is Spain's most serious rail disaster since 2013, intensifying scrutiny on the safety of the country's high-speed rail network.