AVE train rams stopped Iryo train near Urda, Spain, killing at least 68

What happened

On Wednesday, 28 October 2026, at 08:53 local time, an AVE train operated by Renfe struck the rear of an Iryo train that had been stopped on the high-speed Madrid to Seville line near Urda in Toledo province. Spanish authorities said at least 68 people had died and warned that the toll could rise, because recovery work inside the wrecked carriages remains difficult. Reports on the number of injured differ: one Romanian outlet put it above 170, while another spoke only of dozens. Cranes were brought to the site to help rescue crews reach people trapped in the wreckage. Adif, the Spanish rail infrastructure manager, halted traffic on the section and has not given an estimated date for resuming service.

How the sequence unfolded

According to an analysis published on Thursday, 29 October by El País, based on traffic data, Transport Ministry information and railway rules, the chain of failures began around 08:30. At that time the LZB automatic safety system, which supervises high-speed trains, suffered a computer fault over a stretch of about 63 kilometres, and at least six trains were stopped automatically, including the two later involved. The Iryo train was near Urda, while the AVE was stopped near Mora, about 25 kilometres behind it. At 08:36 the Adif control centre at Atocha authorised the AVE to continue at normal speed without the strict restrictions that should have applied, and five minutes later the same authorisation was sent to the Iryo train ahead. The Iryo could not restart because its safety system could not be reset, and at 08:48 its driver told the control centre the train was still immobilised. El País data indicate the AVE had exceeded 200 km/h before impact, but the exact speed at the moment of collision had yet to be confirmed.

The two trains carried very different loads. The Iryo 6076 left Madrid-Atocha at 07:54 with 147 passengers on board, and the AVE 02080 departed on the same route at 08:04 with 397 passengers.

Iryo 6076147

AVE 02080397

Iryo 6076

147 passengers

AVE 02080

397 passengers

Data from the article text

Casualties and hospital numbers

The death toll of at least 68 comes from Spanish authorities, who have not said whether it is final. In the most recent count, 53 people remained in hospitals in Toledo province, down from 107 reported only a few hours earlier. Regional emergency services described the fall as considerable and presented it as a positive development in managing the aftermath. Authorities continue to follow the condition of the victims.

Earlier count107

Latest count53

Earlier count

107 people

Latest count

53 people

Data from the article text

Romanian man among the injured

Romania's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, 29 October, that a Romanian citizen was among the passengers of the two trains. Consular staff in Ciudad Real found him by checking passenger lists for tickets on both routes, and he confirmed that he had been hurt in the crash. The ministry described the contact in these words:

“The consular office contacted the citizen, who confirmed he was injured in the accident, received medical care, is not hospitalised, but must undergo further medical examinations.”

The ministry added that the consulate in Ciudad Real had been reinforced with a consul from the Consulate General in Madrid, and that the consul and the home affairs attache had travelled to the site on the afternoon of 28 October. Spanish authorities had not notified the consulate of any Romanian victims, and no requests for consular assistance had been received.

Protests and mourning in Spain

Dozens of people gathered in Madrid on Wednesday to demand explanations and accountability for the crash. Some protesters carried national flags, and at least one placard bore the name of Transport Minister Oscar Puente. In another part of the capital, senior officials held a minute of silence, among them Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of the Madrid region. Spanish authorities declared three days of national mourning. King Charles III of the United Kingdom sent a private message of condolence to the Spanish monarch.

Rail safety questions in Romania

The crash has prompted questions in Romania about the safety of its own rail network. Official data cited by TVR Info show that more than 72% of the country's railway lines, nearly 9,800 kilometres, had passed their technical renewal deadline by the end of 2025, compared with about 10% in 1990. Specialists note that exceeding the deadline does not automatically make a line unsafe, but it requires more frequent checks and often speed restrictions. Romania recorded 90 significant rail accidents in 2024, most linked to people on the tracks or to level crossings.