Death Toll Rises to Thirty After High-Speed Train Crash in Central Spain

UPDATE - follow-up to At least 10 dead in crash between two trains in Spain's Toledo province: The death toll has climbed to at least 30 following a high-speed train collision in central Spain on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.

The Collision

The accident happened when one train slammed into the rear of another that had stopped on a flat stretch of track between the towns of Urda and Los Yébenes in Toledo province. Both high-speed trains were heading in the same direction from Madrid toward Seville. Spanish media reported that a train from the state-owned RENFE company rammed into a train operated by the private Italian-owned company IRYO. The impact derailed two cars, shredded one car into metal bits, and scattered debris down a gravel slope. Officials stated that 397 passengers were on the RENFE train and 147 passengers were on the IRYO train.

Emergency Response

Emergency workers, firefighters, police, and a deployed military emergency brigade are rescuing survivors and bodies from the two most damaged cars. Injured passengers are being sent to various area hospitals, and civil protection authorities asked the nearby town hall in Urda to prepare a sports pavilion for survivors. Spanish Health Minister Mónica García called the incident a high-speed impact tragedy. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez cancelled his schedule and wrote on X that he was dismayed by the accident, while regional president Emiliano García-Page headed directly to the crash site. IRYO stated it has activated its security protocols and is working with authorities.

Context

This marks the second major train accident in Spain this year, following a January crash that killed 45 people in the southern part of the country. Spain operates one of the most extensive high-speed rail networks in Europe, connecting major cities like Madrid and Seville. Rail service between Madrid, Ciudad Real, and Andalusia has been suspended while rescue and recovery operations continue at the site.