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Spain has begun three days of national mourning after a collision between two trains killed at least 69 people and injured dozens. As investigators work to establish the cause of the disaster, protesters in Madrid have demanded the resignations of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Transport Minister Óscar Puente. Police used tear gas after demonstrators threw bottles, flares and other objects at officers, NBC News reported.
One of the main lines of inquiry concerns possible breaches of safety procedures when train services resumed after an automatic signaling system failure. Audio recordings of conversations between drivers and dispatchers, published by Spanish media, reportedly show that one train was allowed to continue at normal speed while another remained stationary ahead.
Protests call for resignations
Late Wednesday, demonstrators gathered outside the Transport Ministry in Madrid, calling for Sánchez and Puente to resign. Spanish broadcaster TVE estimated that around 1,500 people were present overnight. According to elDiario.es, far-right groups Falange and Revuelta organized the protest.
Some participants threw bottles, flares and other objects at police and chanted slogans against the prime minister and transport minister. Officers pushed back the crowd and deployed tear gas. No injuries or arrests were reported.
A separate demonstration was held by the far-right Vox party and the affiliated Solidaridad union. Participants observed a minute of silence for the victims at Cibeles Square in central Madrid. Some carried banners reading “Corruption is deadly.” The rally ended without major incidents.
Vox leader Santiago Abascal said his party would not take part in what he described as attempts to “use mourning to suppress criticism” of the country’s railway infrastructure.
Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the main opposition People’s Party, also called on the government to explain the state of the railway network.
“Spain has the right to know what is happening with its infrastructure,” he said.
On Thursday, railway workers announced a planned strike. The Spanish railway union Semaf said the action was intended to protect railway safety.
Crash raises concerns over railway infrastructure
The collision has intensified debate over the condition of Spain’s railway network. The country’s high-speed rail system, once considered one of its major infrastructure achievements, had not experienced a fatal accident since it began operating more than 30 years ago.
However, figures from Spain’s railway safety authority indicate that the overall number of incidents, including derailments and collisions, has increased. There were 45 such incidents in 2016, 57 in 2024 and 69 last year.
According to the European Commission, Spain’s spending on maintaining its high-speed rail network, which spans around 4,000 kilometers, remains lower than that of other major European countries.
Between 2018 and 2022, Spain spent an average of approximately €1.5 billion annually on high-speed rail, more than any other European country. Most of that funding went toward building new infrastructure, while maintenance, renovation and modernization accounted for only around 16% of the budget.
A separate Reuters analysis based on data from Spain’s competition authority found that approximately 25 million passengers used the country’s high-speed trains in the first half of 2026, around 14% fewer than in the same period a year earlier.
Political fallout
The disaster comes amid heightened political tensions in Spain. Protests over rising prices and a shortage of affordable housing have taken place in recent weeks, adding to pressure on Sánchez’s government. His administration has also suffered several parliamentary setbacks while trying to advance legislation addressing the housing crisis.
The crash has prompted fresh demands for the government to explain how safety systems operated and who authorized the resumption of train services. Puente faces calls to resign, although the disaster’s broader political impact remains unclear.
Most Spanish politicians have canceled public events and suspended election campaigns during the mourning period. Vox has been an exception, saying it will continue criticizing the state of the railway infrastructure.
The supplied report also states that early general elections are scheduled for November 29. As the country prepares for the vote, the disaster has renewed scrutiny of transport management and railway safety funding.
What is known about the collision
The crash occurred on the morning of Wednesday, October 28. A train operated by state-owned Renfe traveling from Madrid to Seville collided with a stationary train operated by private company Iryo. Renfe’s train was carrying 397 passengers, while Iryo’s had 147 on board, Reuters reported.
Preliminary information indicates that a computer failure disrupted the automatic signaling system on the affected section of track. Train services were halted at around 8:30 a.m. local time.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente said the central control center subsequently instructed the Renfe train to resume traveling without speed restrictions. He called the decision “incomprehensible” and said the drivers were not to blame.
The collision occurred at 8:53 a.m. Puente said the instruction to resume normal operations after a safety-system failure should not have been issued.
Audio recordings of conversations between drivers and dispatchers, published by El País and RTVE, have shed light on events before the crash.
In one recording, a Renfe driver reports technical problems. After a brief exchange, a dispatcher instructs the driver to continue at normal speed.
“Continue your journey, and then proceed under [the lateral signaling block] at normal speed and under normal operating conditions,” the dispatcher says.
“Normal speed?” the driver asks.
“Yes,” the operator replies.
The lateral signaling block is used as a backup or alternative system when automatic signaling or data transmission is not functioning properly.
Another recording captures an Iryo driver telling the control center that the train has lost its connection to the control system and is stopped before an entry signal at Urda station. After an exchange, the driver is instructed to continue under normal operating conditions.
The driver later contacts the control center again, explaining that he cannot restart the train.
“The train won’t let me operate the [safety] system. That’s why I’m still stopped before the entry signal,” he says.
According to the published account, a final recording indicates that the control center was informed that the Iryo train was stationary as the Renfe train approached. Iryo said its train had “collided from behind” with the other train.
The recordings have drawn criticism from Spanish politicians. Alberto Ibáñez, a lawmaker from the left-wing Sumar platform, called the leaks “disgusting.” Irene Montero, Podemos’ candidate for prime minister, said responsibility for the disaster should not be placed on a single employee. She argued that train drivers and experts had warned for years about risks associated with liberalizing the railway sector.
The investigation is ongoing. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who visited the crash site, said authorities were working “day and night” to establish the full circumstances and strengthen safety measures.
Search operation and victim identification
Rescue teams worked through the night at the crash site, using powerful floodlights to cut through twisted metal and search for victims and survivors. One carriage caught fire, and smoke was visible inside the trains.
Spain’s Foreign Ministry said available information indicated that 42 foreign nationals from seven countries had been on board the trains. One was killed and at least seven were injured.
Hundreds of military personnel were deployed to assist with the response. Drones and helicopters are being used to search for victims and clear debris.
A Civil Guard spokesperson told the BBC that more than 900 personnel from specialized units were working at the scene. One of the main priorities is identifying the remains, as many of the victims have not yet been identified.
Authorities have not given a timetable for completing the process. Relatives of missing passengers have been urged to contact specially established centers where they can provide DNA samples.
Pope Leo expresses condolences
Pope Leo expressed condolences to the families of those killed, wished the injured a speedy recovery and offered support to everyone affected. According to the Vatican, he also urged rescuers to continue their search efforts.
Meanwhile, People’s Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo was due to visit Urda, where local residents had joined efforts to help those affected by the collision.
In January 2026, Spain experienced another deadly accident involving high-speed trains operated by the same companies. Near Adamuz in Córdoba province, a train derailed and collided with an oncoming train, killing 46 people. The disaster prompted debate over funding for railway infrastructure maintenance.
