Vox keeps campaign events after Urda train crash and Abascal blames government

Vox keeps its rallies going

Vox is the only national party that kept its pre-campaign events after an AVE and an Iryo high-speed train collided at Urda in Toledo province on Wednesday, 28 October. Most other parties cancelled their schedules, and the government suspended its own agenda too. Frente Amplio halted all electoral events for its candidates, and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau expressed concern for those affected and support for the emergency services. In Santander, where Abascal spoke beside the Grúa de Piedra around midday, police sources put the crowd at about 500 people. Supporters there chanted slogans against Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

Abascal's attacks on the government

In Valladolid that evening, Abascal spoke first and alone, without the local speakers who usually open his events. He accused the government of looking for a scapegoat for the crash, pointing to its early human-error explanation, and said the causes would not be known soon. He urged people not to believe anything the government says before the general election on 29 November. He called Transport Minister Óscar Puente the "minister of death" and asked him to close his X account.

“We are here to express our commitment to defending Spaniards from a criminal organization, which is why we are not willing to suspend the electoral campaign.”

Abascal linked the tragedies to corruption and to what he called climate and ideological fanaticism, naming the blackout, the floods and the Adamuz crash. He also condemned the corruption cases involving former transport minister José Luis Ábalos, who is in prison.

The death toll and the complaint

Reported death tolls changed through the day. A midday report from Santander gave 64 dead, RTVE and La Razón reported at least 68, and later reports put the figure at nearly 70. RTVE also reported more than 180 injured. Vox has filed a complaint for homicide and reckless injury against the operators of the Atocha traffic control post and other people involved in managing the incident, and asked that the wreckage and surrounding areas be secured for a full investigation. In January, Vox also kept its schedule after the Adamuz accident in Córdoba, which left 46 dead, arguing that other parties wanted to use mourning to silence criticism of infrastructure.

“Our tribute to the Spaniards who have died is to keep working. We are not celebrating, we are working.”

Timeline of the day

The day ran in four beats. Two trains collided at Urda in the morning, according to ABC. Vox held its Santander rally at midday, where police sources counted about 500 people. A minute of silence was convened for 20:00 in Valladolid, while Abascal's Valladolid event went ahead in the evening. The next milestone is the general election on 29 November 2026.