By Fatma Younis
Audio recordings obtained by Spanish media reveal that a control center in Madrid authorized a state-owned Renfe high-speed train to resume normal speed despite a stationary Iryo train on the tracks ahead, a decision that led to a collision killing at least 69 people on Wednesday.
System Failure and Handover
Spain's transportation minister, Óscar Puente, said a computer malfunction disabled a security system around 8:30 a.m. local time, halting multiple trains. Rail traffic control was then transferred to the Madrid center.
Fatal Authorization
At approximately 8:36 a.m., the control center instructed the Renfe train to proceed without speed limitations, even though the Iryo train was stopped ahead. Puente called the decision erroneous and a breach of protocol.
Operators' Communications
Audio clips capture the Renfe operator confirming "At normal speed? OK" before the controller signed off. Minutes later, the center also authorized the Iryo train to continue. Its operator reported seven minutes later that she could not restart and remained stopped at the entrance signal. The center told her to restart when possible and call back if issues persisted. The Renfe train struck the rear of the Iryo train around 8:53 a.m. near Urda station.
Aftermath and Previous Incidents
The crash, Spain's second deadly high-speed rail collision this year, prompted three days of national mourning. A January disaster on the same line killed 46 people, and a commuter train derailment near Barcelona days later killed the driver and injured dozens. Hundreds of emergency personnel responded to Wednesday's wreckage. Spain operates Europe's largest high-speed rail network, with over 1,900 miles of track for trains exceeding 155 mph.
