We will be updating this report throughout today.
UPDATE at 11.39am:
At least 30 people have died in Wednesday’s collision between an AVE (RENFE) train and an Iryo service near Urda station in Toledo province, sources in the Castilla-La Mancha government told Spanish news agency EFE, describing the toll as ‘a minimum’.
Firefighters at the scene were completing the recovery of bodies, the same sources said. The number of people injured remained unknown.
The collision caused two rear carriages of the Iryo train to derail and fall down an embankment. Services on the Madrid–Andalusia high-speed line were suspended in both directions.
Original full report:
At least 10 people have been killed and several others injured in a collision between two high-speed passenger trains near Urda, in Spain’s Toledo province (Castilla-La Mancha).
Two rear carriages of an Iryo train derailed and fell down an embankment after being struck from behind by a RENFE service on Wednesday morning. The collision brought traffic on the Madrid-Andalusia high-speed line to a halt in both directions, disrupting connections between the capital, Ciudad Real and southern Spain.
The initial death toll could rise, Castilla-La Mancha government spokeswoman Esther Padilla warned. She described the accident as ‘very serious’ and said the number of fatalities would ‘with complete certainty’ increase.
Collision on the route south
According to the account provided by RENFE and reported by RTVE, service 2080 struck Iryo train 6076 at the approach to Urda station, around kilometre 118 of the high-speed railway. Both trains were travelling from Madrid towards Seville (Andalusia).
The infrastructure manager, Adif, placed the collision at approximately 8.30am.
‘A high-speed train has struck another from behind while travelling south; they were heading to Andalusia,’ Adif said.
RENFE’s initial statement also indicated that emergency services had been unable to establish contact with the driver of its train.
‘The two rear carriages of the Iryo are derailed and 112 cannot contact the driver of train 2080 ADIF,’ the statement said.
The circumstances that led to the collision remained unclear. RENFE activated its assistance plan for railway accident victims and their relatives, opening the telephone line 900 101 020.
Emergency teams mobilised
Castilla-La Mancha activated its territorial emergency plan, Platecam, at 9.15am, declaring Operational Situation 1 in Toledo province.
Guardia Civil officers, firefighters from the provincial services of Toledo and Ciudad Real, Civil Protection volunteers and medical teams from the regional health service, SESCAM, were deployed. An advanced medical post was being established at the scene.
Authorities also sought space nearby to receive people affected by the crash.
‘There has been a rear-end collision between two trains and people have been injured. Civil Protection has asked us to make a sports pavilion available in case they need to use it,’ Urda mayor Manuel Galán told TVE’s La Hora de La 1.
Jesús Pérez, mayor of nearby Los Yébenes, said information reaching local officials was still limited.
‘I am being told that it is a serious accident. But I don’t have much more information,’ he told the same programme.
Political leaders suspend engagements
The crash prompted leading politicians to cancel engagements during the run-up to Spain’s election campaign.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was receiving updates from Transport Minister Óscar Puente and Castilla-La Mancha president Emiliano García-Page.
‘Dismayed 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. The emergency services are working on the ground to assist those affected and ensure their safety, in coordination with all the administrations involved. My affection, solidarity and support go out to all the victims and their families,’ Sánchez wrote on X.
Opposition People’s Party (PP) leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo also expressed concern.
‘Very concerned by the information we are receiving about another railway accident. The priority now is to attend to the victims and support their families. All my support goes to the emergency teams working on the ground,’ he wrote.
García-Page said he was following developments ‘with attention and concern’ and was travelling to the crash site.
‘Both I and the rest of my government are suspending our engagements,’ he announced.
Another blow to Spain’s rail network
The collision follows January’s railway disaster in Adamuz, Córdoba, where 45 people died after an Iryo train derailed, leaving rear carriages in the path of an approaching Alvia service.
That disaster was Spain’s deadliest rail crash since the 2013 derailment that killed 80 people, and raised concerns about safety on the country’s extensive high-speed network.
The initial reports from Urda did not establish what caused Wednesday’s collision or provide a final count of those injured. ALSO READ: Sánchez: Spain’s rail network is ‘not perfect but safe’, vows ‘justice will be done’ for victims’ families.
We will be updating this report throughout the day.
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VIDEO | Al menos 30 personas han fallecido este miércoles en el accidente ferroviario ocurrido cerca de la estación de Urda (Toledo), entre un Ave y un Iryo, han informado a EFE fuentes del Gobierno de Castilla-La Mancha, que han considerado esa cifra como “un mínimo”. https://t.co/p5nNHPqyVz
— EFE Noticias (@EFEnoticias) October 28, 2026
⚠️ACCIDENTE URDA: Renfe ha habilitado el teléfono 𝟵𝟬𝟬 𝟭𝟬 𝟭𝟬 𝟮𝟬, dentro del Plan de Asistencia a las Víctimas de Accidentes Ferroviarios y sus Familiares. Rogamos que para cualquier otra gestión o petición de información se evite llamar a este número.
— Renfe (@Renfe) October 28, 2026
ℹ️ RENFE INFORMA: Comunicado sobre el accidente entre Los Yébenes y Urda (Toledo). https://t.co/O9e6AiQrSt
— Renfe (@Renfe) October 28, 2026
ÚLTIMA HORA 🔴 Varios fallecidos y decenas de heridos al colisionar dos trenes en Urda, Toledo. Se ha habilitado el número de teléfono para atender a familiares 900 10 10 20 https://t.co/nrlsc6K8Za
— RTVE Noticias (@rtvenoticias) October 28, 2026
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