By Basant El-Faramawy
A Spanish high-speed passenger train was travelling at between 99 mph and 124 mph when it collided with a stationary train near the central town of Urda on Wednesday, killing at least 69 people, according to a preliminary report from the Independent Authority for the Technical Investigation of Accidents and Incidents (AITAT).
Speed and casualties
The Renfe-operated train was carrying 379 passengers and seven crew when it struck an Iryo-operated train that had 147 passengers and five crew on board. The exact speed at impact will be confirmed once data is retrieved from the train’s black box. The Civil Guard has received reports of 64 people missing, and 49 autopsies have been completed so far, with five victims identified — three women and two men.
Investigation findings
AITAT said a sequence of malfunctions, instructions and actions led to the collision in the absence of necessary mitigating barriers. The crash followed the failure of the automatic signalling system, after which the central control centre in Madrid took over manual operations.
Signalling failure and protocol breach
Audio communications obtained by El País reveal that a controller authorised the Renfe train to proceed at normal speed despite the presence of the stationary Iryo train ahead. Transport Minister Oscar Puente stated this disregarded a protocol requiring speeds no greater than 40 km/h in such circumstances. The controller also authorised the Renfe train to move when protocol dictated the Iryo train should have proceeded first.
Previous accident and safety concerns
The collision has reopened debate over safety and maintenance on Spain’s high-speed rail network, the most extensive in Europe. A fatal accident involving the same rail companies on the same line occurred in January.
Witness account
Sebastian Herrero, a passenger near the front of the Iryo train, described the scene as devastating, with carriages completely burnt out and people in very bad condition being pulled from the wreckage.
