Spain high-speed train collision kills at least 30 near Toledo

Two high-speed trains collided early Wednesday near the town of Urda in central Spain, killing at least 30 people and injuring others in one of the deadliest rail accidents in the country in recent years. The crash occurred on the Madrid-Seville line when a Renfe-operated AVE train struck the rear of a stationary Iryo train, according to regional officials and emergency services. Two carriages from the Iryo train derailed and tumbled down an embankment, complicating rescue efforts at the site south of Madrid in Toledo province.

Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia described the impact as high-speed and warned that the toll could rise as crews worked through the wreckage of the most damaged cars. Authorities reported 397 passengers aboard the Renfe train and 147 on the Iryo service. Rescue teams including firefighters, civil protection units, and air ambulances set up an advanced medical post near the tracks to triage the injured before transferring them to area hospitals. Local officials prepared a sports pavilion in Urda to shelter passengers and provide support.

The sequence of events remains under investigation by railway infrastructure manager Adif. Initial accounts indicate the Iryo train had stopped when the Renfe train approached from behind at more than 100 kilometers per hour. Both trains were traveling in the same direction on the high-speed corridor connecting the capital with Andalusia. Service on the line was immediately suspended between Madrid, Ciudad Real, and southern destinations, disrupting thousands of travelers.

Spain maintains one of Europe’s most extensive high-speed rail networks, built over decades with both public and private operators now sharing tracks. Renfe, the state-owned company, runs the majority of AVE services, while Iryo entered the market more recently as part of efforts to increase competition on key routes. Wednesday’s collision marks the second serious incident involving passenger trains this year. In January, 45 people died when a train derailed and struck an oncoming service in the south.

Regional president Emiliano Garcia-Page was en route to the scene, and national authorities pledged a full review of signaling and operational procedures once the immediate rescue phase concludes. Footage from the site showed scattered debris along the slope and emergency crews moving methodically among the overturned cars. As of midday, officials had not released a confirmed injury count or details on the condition of survivors.