Leaked recordings reveal control-centre messages before deadly Spanish high-speed train crash
Audio leaks show Madrid rail controllers instructing two high-speed trains to resume normal operations minutes before a collision that killed at least 69 people, prompting questions about signalling failures and accountability ahead of Spain's national election.
Leaked audio recordings obtained by Spanish media have disclosed the final exchanges between the Madrid rail control centre and the drivers of two high-speed trains on the line south of the capital before a collision killed at least 69 people. The recordings indicate that a controller told the driver of a Renfe AVE train to "resume normal operations" after a signalling malfunction halted the train, prompting the driver to accelerate without knowing another train was stationary ahead.
The LZB signalling system, which monitors train speeds, experienced a disruption that stopped eight trains along the Madrid-Seville route. After the automated system failed, operations switched to manual control. Transport professor Carlos Gutiérrez Hita noted a series of LZB outages in the weeks preceding the crash and questioned why the safety system failed on the morning of the accident.
According to the leaked transcript, the Renfe AVE driver asked for clarification, "Normal operations?" and the controller replied, "Yes." The instruction allowed speeds of up to 200 km/h, far higher than the cautious 40 km/h used during a signal outage. The other train, operated by private company Iryo, also received a directive to resume normal operations, though it remained stopped after a loss of transmission at the Urda entrance signal.
The Iryo driver reported the problem to the control centre at 8:41 a.m., stating that the system restart had failed. The controller urged the driver to move as soon as possible and to call if further issues arose. The driver acknowledged, "OK, perfect. I’ll let you know." The collision occurred at 8:53 a.m. when the accelerating Renfe AVE train struck the stationary Iryo train.
Rail union leaders have condemned the leaks, arguing that human errors stem from inadequate equipment. They have called on Transport Minister Óscar Puente to resign, placing the Socialist Party government under pressure during the election campaign. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez pledged a full investigation, saying safety must be strengthened to restore confidence in Spain’s high-speed rail system. People’s Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo suspended his campaign during the mourning period and urged transparency about the nation’s infrastructure.
The incident follows a derailment in January that killed 46 people, intensifying scrutiny of Spain’s high-speed network, which carried about 25 million passengers last year. The tragedy is now a central issue in the political debate ahead of the November 29 election.