Spain Train Crash: At Least 10 Feared Dead as Two High-Speed Trains Collide in Toledo

At least 10 people are feared dead and several others injured after two high-speed trains collided in Urda, Toledo province, central Spain, on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, with authorities warning that the death toll could rise.

The collision involved a Renfe AVE train travelling from Madrid to Sevilla and an Iryo train operating on the Madrid–Seville high-speed railway line.

Early reports suggested that the AVE train may have collided with the Iryo train ahead of it. Spanish news agency EFE reported that at least three carriages derailed, with some plunging down an embankment.

Authorities have yet to establish the exact cause of the accident, while emergency teams continue responding to the incident and assisting passengers.

Esther Padilla, spokesperson for the Castilla-La Mancha regional government, warned that the number of fatalities and injuries was likely to increase as rescue operations continued.

“We know that the number of fatalities and injuries will continue to rise. We are prepared to provide the best possible care as quickly as we can, but the situation is likely to worsen,” Padilla told Spanish broadcaster RTVE.

The affected trains were reported to be Iryo service 7076, carrying 146 passengers and a baby, and AVE service 2080, which had 397 passengers on board. The combined number of people aboard the two trains was approximately 544.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed shock over the accident and said he was maintaining close contact with the transport minister and regional authorities.

“Shocked by the serious train accident in Toledo. I remain in constant contact with the Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, and with the president of Castilla-La Mancha, Emiliano García-Page,” Sánchez said.

“Emergency services are working on the ground to assist those affected and ensure their safety, in coordination with all the involved administrations. My affection, solidarity, and support to all the victims and their families,” he added.

Transport Minister Óscar Puente said he had been at the emergency control centre since 9:40 a.m. seeking information about the circumstances surrounding the collision.

“In the control centre since 9:40 trying to obtain all possible information about what happened,” Puente said.

Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo also expressed concern over the incident, saying the immediate priority was to help victims and support their families.

“Very concerned about the information we are getting about a new rail accident. The priority now is to attend to the victims and support their families. My full support to the emergency teams working on the ground,” Feijóo said.

Health Minister Mónica García said authorities were prioritising treatment for the injured, with hospitals making additional resources available to respond to the emergency.

She described the collision as a high-impact accident and warned that it could become a major tragedy.

Spain’s royal household expressed concern over the accident and conveyed its condolences to the families of those who died, while offering support to injured passengers and emergency responders.

“We are moved and concerned by the train accident in Urda (Toledo). We share in the sorrow of the families and loved ones of the deceased and send our affection to the injured and those affected,” the royal household said.

“Our support also goes to the emergency teams and all those working in the area to help as much as possible under these circumstances,” the statement added.

The Castilla-La Mancha emergency services established a hotline, 900 122 112, for people affected by the crash and those seeking information.

Meanwhile, Madrid’s blood bank issued an urgent appeal for donations of all blood groups to prepare for a possible increase in medical needs.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also sent her condolences following reports of the collision.

“Just received the devastating news from Toledo on the collision of two high-speed trains. My heart goes out to the victims’ families and loved ones,” von der Leyen said.

“Today, Europe mourns with you,” she added.

Investigators are expected to examine the circumstances leading to the crash, including the actions of the train drivers and the operation of the railway signalling system.

Esther Padilla told RTVE that preliminary information suggested one of the trains might have stopped before the collision, although the circumstances remained unclear.

Spain’s state rail infrastructure authority announced the suspension of services between Madrid and the southern region of Andalucía following the rear-end collision.

The investigation will seek to establish how the two trains came into contact and whether any technical or operational failures contributed to the accident.

The Toledo collision has revived memories of the deadly train crash in Adamuz, Córdoba province, in January 2026, which killed 46 people and injured 152 others.

Another railway incident occurred days later near Gelida in Catalonia, when a train was derailed following the collapse of a retaining wall, killing the driver and injuring 37 people.

Following the Adamuz disaster, Spain’s largest train drivers’ union called for a three-day nationwide strike to demand more thorough safety inspections and the restoration of railway safety standards.

Spain operates Europe’s largest high-speed railway network, with nearly 4,000 kilometres of track, making rail travel a major component of the country’s transport system.

According to figures cited in reports, Renfe carried more than 25 million passengers on its high-speed trains in 2024.

The country has also experienced other major rail disasters, including the 2013 derailment near Santiago de Compostela, which killed 80 people. Investigators found that the train had been travelling at 179 kilometres per hour on a section with an 80-kilometre-per-hour speed limit.

Authorities are continuing to assess the impact of the latest collision as rescue efforts and investigations proceed. The final number of casualties and the cause of the accident had not been formally confirmed in the initial reports.

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