Spain train crash: At least 10 killed in high-speed collision as officials halt route

Collision near Toledo

The trains crashed on Wednesday morning near Toledo, in the region of Castilla-La Mancha. At least 10 people had died, local media reported, citing Spanish officials. Esther Padilla, a regional spokeswoman, said she had received a toll of at least 10 and expected it to rise. She also said people affected by the crash were being treated.

Rail service suspended

Renfe said high-speed service from Madrid to Andalusia had been suspended. Local outlets reported 397 passengers were aboard the Renfe train and about 150 were on the Iryo train.

Isaac Barrientos, a spokesman for the transportation ministry, said early reports indicated two Iryo carriages had derailed. He said all traffic on the Madrid-Andalusia route would remain suspended until further notice, and urged ticket holders not to travel to stations.

Passengers describe impact

Early eyewitness accounts in Spanish media described a forceful impact that threw people from the dining car. Passengers reportedly suffered broken limbs and were piled on top of one another.

Some people climbed out through windows and lay in a nearby field. Local workers who heard the crash came to help with first-aid kits, and saw bodies, according to the reports.

Emergency response and context

The collision follows a deadly January crash in southern Spain involving the same carriers. That collision killed 46 people and was the country’s worst railway disaster since 2013.