At least 68 people were killed and an undetermined number injured Wednesday, October 28, when two high-speed passenger trains collided near Toledo in central Spain, sending two carriages off the tracks and down an embankment. The accident forced authorities to suspend rail services between Madrid and the southern region of Andalusia as emergency teams launched a large-scale rescue operation.
The collision occurred at approximately 8:54 a.m. local time near the town of Urda, about 120 kilometers south of Madrid, involving a train operated by Spain’s state-owned Renfe and another belonging to private operator Iryo. Spanish news agency EFE and international media reported fatalities, although authorities had not yet established a definitive casualty count.
The crash occurred on one of Spain’s principal high-speed railway corridors, connecting Madrid with Seville and other major southern cities. The severity of the collision raised concerns that the death toll could increase as rescue operations continued.
Two carriages fall down embankment as rescue teams arrive
Spain’s railway infrastructure operator, Adif, confirmed that the collision occurred near kilometer marker 118, between Mora, Orgaz and Urda, on the Madrid-Seville high-speed line. Initial reports indicated that one train struck the other from behind, although some early accounts differed over the trains’ precise directions of travel.
According to EFE and Spanish television network laSexta, the impact caused two carriages to derail and fall down an embankment, complicating access for emergency personnel. Witnesses described numerous injuries, while the full extent of the damage remained unclear.
Firefighters from Alcázar de San Juan and Orgaz were dispatched to the scene, accompanied by Civil Protection volunteers, medical personnel and specialized rescue units. Three medical helicopters and two intensive care ambulances were deployed to assist in evacuating the injured.
The regional government of Castilla-La Mancha activated its territorial emergency response plan, placing rescue and medical services on alert. Urda Mayor Manuel Galán confirmed that injured passengers had been reported and said local authorities had been asked to prepare a municipal sports facility for possible emergency use.
Rail services suspended as authorities investigate collision
Adif announced the suspension of high-speed services between Madrid and Andalusia immediately after the accident. Renfe confirmed that connections involving Madrid, Ciudad Real and southern Spain had been disrupted, offering affected passengers the possibility of changing or canceling tickets without additional charges.
The cause of the collision remained unknown. Investigators had not established whether the accident involved a technical failure, signaling problems, operational error or another contributing factor. Spanish authorities had not released comprehensive information about the passengers aboard the two trains or the identities of the victims.
The collision adds to concerns about railway safety in Spain following another deadly high-speed rail disaster near Adamuz, in Córdoba province, in January 2026, which claimed 46 lives.
Spain operates one of Europe’s largest high-speed railway networks, carrying millions of passengers annually between Madrid and major regional cities.
Wednesday’s accident is expected to prompt a formal technical investigation into the circumstances of the collision, while emergency crews continue their work and railway authorities assess the damage to the infrastructure.
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