A fatal collision on a high-speed rail route in central Spain has placed intense scrutiny on the country’s railway infrastructure and safety protocols.
The crash occurred on Tuesday between Mora and Orgaz, approximately 140 kilometres south of Madrid. A train traveling from Madrid to Seville struck a stationary Iryo train, causing several carriages to plunge down an embankment.
The Iryo train carried 147 passengers and had halted on the tracks due to a computer system failure. Survivors described harrowing scenes of being thrown through the air, remaining trapped in the wreckage and breaking windows to escape.
Leaked audio recordings obtained by broadcaster RTVE indicated that controllers at the state rail manager Adif instructed the driver of the moving train to disconnect the malfunctioning LZB safety system. Controllers told the driver to resume the journey at speeds of up to 200 kilometres per hour.
"Disconnect and reconnect the LZB and resume journey under the protection of the BSL at normal speed," controllers told the driver at 8.36 am local time.
Minutes later, the driver of the Iryo train reported being unable to proceed. The driver stated they experienced a loss of transmission and stopped at the Urda entrance signal.
While the government pointed to human error in allowing a train onto an occupied track, RTVE disputed the timeline. Citing sources, the broadcaster reported that the Iryo train had not received clearance to move before the collision occurred.
Transport Minister Oscar Puente cited system failure and human error as possible factors in the crash.
The tragedy exposed vulnerabilities on the 1992 Madrid-Seville route. The line still relies on the older LZB system instead of modern European Rail Traffic Management System safety technology.
This incident is the second fatal crash on the same line in nine months. A previous accident near Cordoba in January resulted in the deaths of 46 people.
