Sánchez pledges rail safety review after 68 killed in Toledo crash

Sixty-eight people died when a RENFE train collided with a stationary IRYO train near Urda in Toledo province on Wednesday. The impact occurred at 8:53 a.m. after a central command center ordered the moving train to proceed without speed restrictions. Regional authorities confirmed the death toll after more than 60 fatalities were initially reported. Dozens of injured passengers were treated at nearby hospitals.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the site in the central province of Toledo. He declared three days of national mourning starting Thursday. Sánchez pledged an investigation into the cause of the collision. He stated that Spain needs to reinforce safety measures to rebuild public trust in the rail network. "It is not acceptable for a country like Spain to endure two high-speed train accidents in the same year," Sánchez said.

Spain's high-speed rail network ranks second in the world by track mileage behind China. The system had not suffered a deadly crash in more than three decades until January. In that incident, 46 people died when a train derailed in southern Spain and struck another train. The current system carried 45 million travelers in the past year, including millions of tourists. Both fatal crashes this year involved one state-owned RENFE train and one privately operated IRYO train. IRYO began service in Spain in 2022 after the government liberalized the sector in 2021.

Transport Minister Óscar Puente identified a computer malfunction as the primary cause. A security system covering 63 kilometers of track failed at 8:30 a.m., causing all trains in that sector to stop. The IRYO train remained stopped near Urda. The RENFE train was 25 kilometers behind it. Central command subsequently told the RENFE engineers to resume movement. Puente said the engineers were not at fault. He described the order as inexplicable because a stop signal remained active on the line. He noted the train should have been limited to a reduced speed.

Political leaders reacted to the disaster with varying tones ahead of the upcoming election. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the Popular Party, demanded a full investigation. He announced that his party canceled campaign events for the day to respect the victims. "This is the moment to respect the dead, the injured and their families," Núñez Feijóo said. Santiago Abascal, leader of the far-right Vox party, used harsher language. He described the government as a criminal organization and promised to work until it faced a courtroom.

Polls indicate Sánchez faces a challenging election campaign. He had hoped to capitalize on voter discontent regarding housing costs and rents. The crash complicates his position. Sánchez must now address rail safety concerns while facing criticism over migration policies and corruption accusations. His Socialist party seeks reelection in Spain's first national election since 2023.

Emergency crews used cranes to remove damaged train parts late on Wednesday. Hundreds of firefighters, police officers, and soldiers assisted in rescue operations. The next phase of the investigation will determine how the central command issued the order despite the active stop signal.