Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has declared three days of national mourning following a high-speed train collision near Toledo that left dozens of people injured. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday morning, has triggered a severe investigation into the safety protocols of the country’s rail network, with officials pointing to a combination of technical failure and human error.
Manual Override Suspected in Collision
Transport Minister Óscar Puente revealed that the crash was preceded by a failure in the LZB train control system. Around 8:30 am, communications issues caused a loss of signal coverage for more than 60 kilometers of track. This technical fault automatically triggered emergency stops for six trains operating on that stretch of the line.
However, Puente stated that approximately six minutes later, the Adif control centre issued a manual instruction to override the warning and allow traffic to resume. He described this decision as “inexplicable” and noted that standard procedure would have required trains to remain stationary until the issue was resolved.
During the subsequent 25 minutes, a second AVE high-speed train traveled 25 kilometers before colliding with a stationary Iryo train. Puente emphasized that even if the restart order had been valid, the driver should have been instructed to proceed “on sight” at a maximum speed of 40 km/h, rather than at normal operating speeds. He confirmed that the individual responsible for the decision is now under investigation.
Government Response and Safety Review
Prime Minister Sánchez visited the crash site accompanied by Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska and Emiliano García-Page, the president of the Castilla-La Mancha region. Sánchez expressed deep solidarity with the victims and their families, stating that the government’s immediate priority is supporting those affected.
The government has committed to a thorough review of the incident alongside independent accident investigators and judicial authorities. Sánchez acknowledged that while the causes of this crash appear different from the Adamuz accident in January, the occurrence of two high-speed rail incidents in a single year is unacceptable. He pledged to strengthen safety measures to rebuild public confidence in the network.
Reports indicate that 15 people are suffering from severe or critical injuries, while 53 others were hospitalized for moderate injuries. The UK ambassador to Spain, Alex Ellis, has offered consular support to British nationals affected by the incident.
Source: The Guardian
