On January 18, a high-speed train derailed in Spain, colliding with another train and killing 43 people in the country’s deadliest railway accident in over a decade.
Deadliest Railway Accident in Over a Decade
On Sunday, January 18, in the Adamuz area near Cordoba, an Iryo Frecciarossa1000 train traveling to Madrid derailed at over 200 kilometers per hour and entered the opposite track, causing a head-on collision with a Renfe’s Alvia train. The Alvia’s driver had approximately 20 seconds to react, though Transport Minister Oscar Puente stated it was at most nine seconds. The locomotive and first carriages fell off the embankment, destroying the tracks. Minister Puente called the accident “extremely strange.” Investigators have ruled out excessive speed and driver error as causes. Technicians found a 30-centimeter rail crack and damaged sleepers, possibly due to a faulty weld. The investigation, involving railway safety experts and manufacturers, is expected to last at least a month.
Driver’s Cabin Recording Released
On Wednesday, January 21, the Cordopolis service published a recording of the conversation with the derailed train’s driver. The recording suggests the driver initially did not realize the severity of the situation, reporting only about “catching” a blocked train. According to El Pais, citing sources familiar with the investigation, the driver was initially unaware that another train was involved and had struck his train’s last carriages.
After a moment, the driver called the control center again, reporting the derailment and that several carriages had entered the opposite track, demanding that traffic on the section be stopped. He requested rescue services, firefighters, and ambulances but did not mention a collision with another train. Controllers assured him no other train was approaching, though Spanish media indicate the Alvia had already struck the derailed Iryo carriages seconds earlier.
Railway Workers Announce Strike
Following two serious accidents, including one in Adamuz and another near Barcelona, Spain’s Semaf trade union is demanding safety guarantees and punishment for those responsible for railway safety. Sector employees state that train traffic in Catalonia will not return to normal until they are confident the network operates safely. “Semaf members are devastated. They consider it unacceptable that the state of Spanish railways continues to deteriorate,” the union stated in a press release.
Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente announced that his ministry will negotiate with union representatives to avoid a strike, expressing sympathy for the workers and confirming he understands their concerns.
Deadly Accidents on Spanish Railways
On January 18 in Adamuz, Cordoba province, several carriages of a train traveling from Malaga to Madrid derailed and collided with a train heading to Huelva, killing 43 people including the driver, and injuring over 100. On January 20 near Barcelona, a suburban train accident resulted in one death (the driver) and 37 injuries.
