Two trains collide near Urda in Toledo province, Spain, at least 46 reported dead

The collision

Two passenger trains collided on the morning of Wednesday, 28 October 2026, on the line linking Madrid and Seville between Los Yébenes and Urda in Toledo province. Gazetaprawna reported the impact at 8:54 according to local emergency services, and Renfe's train heading from Madrid to Seville hit the rear of an Iryo train. Two rear carriages of the Iryo train derailed and fell from the embankment. Adif said on X that traffic on the Madrid-Andalusia high-speed line had been suspended after the rear-end collision.

Casualties and rescue

Death tolls differ by source and are still being verified. ABC, citing Spain's Civil Defence, reported at least 46 dead, while the Castilla-La Mancha regional government spokesperson had confirmed 10 deaths earlier in the morning. Health minister Mónica García said the exact number of dead and injured was not yet known. Polityka cited Spanish media reporting 46 deaths and more than 180 injured, with more than 500 passengers on the two trains. Rescue work involves the Spanish fire service, medical crews and Civil Defence, and the military emergency unit UME was sent to support the operation. Hospitals in the area are preparing to receive the injured, and a sports hall in Urda is being readied if needed.

Passenger accounts

El País journalist Antonio Jimenez Barca was travelling on the public operator's train towards Seville when the collision happened, and was in the café carriage. He said he felt pushed forward and hit his head, and described slight injuries. Radio Cadena SER also spoke to Eduarda, who was on an Iryo train with her two cats. She said there was sudden braking, people began fleeing and some were crying, with bodies visible under the trains.

Possible causes

No official cause has been confirmed. El País reported that the transport ministry and Adif are examining a hypothesis of human error by an Adif employee while removing a fault in the main signalling system. According to preliminary findings cited by 20minutos, one train stopped or slowed sharply a few minutes before the crash because of problems on the line, and the following train ran into it from behind. A special commission and prosecutors will investigate the cause, and Spain's election campaign events have been cancelled.

Reactions

Polish President Karol Nawrocki and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski sent condolences. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote that he was deeply moved by the serious railway accident in Toledo. Polish foreign ministry spokesman Maciej Wewiór said there was no information that Polish citizens were affected, and the consulate in Spain was operating.

Background from earlier this year

Super Express reported that this is the third serious rail accident in Spain this year, following two January crashes that killed 47 people in total. It described the Adamuz crash of 18 January 2026, in which 46 passengers died, and a January accident at Gelida near Barcelona, which Super Express said occurred on 20 January.