At least 64 dead as two trains crash in Spain

At least 64 people were killed when a RENFE train ran into the rear of a stopped IRYO train near Urda, in Toledo province, at about 8.54am local time on 28 October 2026. Two carriages came off the track and fell down an embankment, and Spain's rail infrastructure manager ADIF suspended traffic between Madrid, Ciudad Real and Andalusia.

How the toll rose through the day

Regional authorities first confirmed 10 deaths, and the Castilla-La Mancha spokeswoman, Esther Padilla, warned that number would surely rise. The regional government later put the toll at a minimum of 30. The central government's office for Castilla-La Mancha then confirmed the toll had risen to at least 64. Rescue work was still under way in the two most damaged cars when these reports were filed, and the cause of the crash was not known.

Who was on board, and what happens to travellers

Padilla said 397 people were on the RENFE train and 147 on the IRYO train, 544 in total. Firefighters, Guardia Civil units, Red Cross teams, a military emergency brigade, medical helicopters and ambulances were sent to the scene, and Urda's sports pavilion was prepared to receive passengers. RENFE offered free changes and cancellations on affected services, and IRYO said it had activated its safety protocols.

A second disaster in one year

In January 2026, a crash on the same corridor killed 46 people. One other account put that toll at 45. It was the deadliest crash in Spain since the 2013 derailment that killed 80 people. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez cancelled his agenda for the day to follow the response.

What happens next

Spain's rail accident investigators will examine how a moving train struck a stopped train, but no cause has been announced. ADIF has not said when the line will reopen, and an official final toll is still awaited. 📷 Photo credit: Feranza, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) — file photo