Renfe AVE and Iryo trains collide near Urda in Toledo, at least 10 dead

What happened

Two high-speed trains collided on the morning of Wednesday, 28 October, at 8.54 near Urda in the province of Toledo. The trains were a Renfe AVE and an Iryo service, both travelling the Madrid-Seville route. Spanish Transport Ministry sources said early indications suggest the Renfe AVE may have run into the Iryo from behind, and two carriages of the Iryo train left the track. Circulation on the line was suspended while emergency crews worked at the site. The reports place the crash differently: Europa Press puts it between the Mora, Orgaz and Urda stations, while Adnkronos, relaying Sky News, puts it between Los Yebenes and Urda.

Adnkronos also reported that the Renfe train had stopped and slowed a few minutes earlier because of a problem on the line. The same outlet recalled a similar collision between a Renfe high-speed train and an Iryo convoy at Adamuz, in Córdoba province, on 18 January.

Casualty figures

Esther Padilla, spokesperson for the Castilla-La Mancha government, confirmed at least 10 deaths. She added that the number would probably keep rising while emergency and firefighting crews kept working at the site. Adnkronos, citing local authorities as relayed by Sky News, reported at least 39 victims. That higher figure has not been matched by the regional government's count, so the two numbers currently stand side by side. The national government had not yet released official figures for the people affected.

Government and party reaction

Spain's prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said he was dismayed by what he called a 'grave' accident and expressed support for 'all the victims'. He said he was in constant contact with Transport Minister Óscar Puente and with Castilla-La Mancha's president, Emiliano García-Page. Ministers' official agendas for the day were cancelled. The PSOE also cancelled its events for Wednesday and said it was awaiting official information. According to party headquarters at Ferraz, the move came during the pre-campaign for the general elections on 29 November.

ERC leader Oriol Junqueras wrote on X that the accident was a source of grief and that his priority was the people affected.

“Today the priority is people.”

Regional offers of help

Catalonia's president, Salvador Illa, offered the Generalitat's help 'whatever is needed' and wrote on X:

“All my support goes to those affected and their families, as well as to the emergency teams who are working.”

Aragón's regional government offered its two health helicopters to Castilla-La Mancha. Miguel Ángel Clavero, director general of Interior and Emergencies, said he had contacted the 112 emergency centre in Toledo to offer them for moving injured people to hospitals. Castilla y León's president, Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, spoke with García-Page to pass on his region's solidarity and to make emergency and health resources available. Castilla y León has mobilized its Rescue and Salvage Group and several helitransported health units, which are on standby for the neighbouring region. Adnkronos reported that Adif staff, operators from both companies and health rescuers were at the site, and that witnesses described a grim scene.