At least 46 Dead in Toledo High-Speed Train Collision

A rear-end collision on the Madrid-Andalusia high-speed rail line near Toledo killed at least 46 people and left many injured, prompting the suspension of service between Madrid, Ciudad Real and Andalusia. The accident occurred at 9:00 a.m. local time, according to ADIF, Spain’s rail infrastructure operator, which posted a notice on X stating that traffic on the line had been halted.

The southbound Renfe AVE train struck a stationary Iryo train, causing carriages to tumble down an embankment. ADIF reported that the Renfe train carried 397 passengers while the Iryo train had 147 on board. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, said Esther Padilla, spokeswoman for the Castilla La Mancha region.

Iryo, an Italian-owned operator, said it had activated its security protocols and was cooperating with authorities. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed shock at the incident, noting he was in contact with Transport Minister Óscar Puente and the president of Castilla La Mancha, and that emergency services were working to assist those affected.

The crash is the deadliest on Spain’s high-speed network since a 2013 accident that killed 80 people and follows a January derailment and collision in Adamuz that claimed 45 lives.