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High-speed train collision in Spain kills at least 39

High-speed train collision in Spain kills at least 39

akyuu

Comments (193)

  • rr2841
    What we know so far:1. The last 3 cars from the Iryo train (Frecciarossa 1000) derailed for unknown reasons. It's a straight line, so this is extremely rare.2. The Renfe train (Alvia) didn't have time to break and hit the derailed trains from Iryo, the two first cars derail as a consequence of the impact.3. The Iryo train(Frecciarossa 1000), that caused the accident, was manufactured in 2022 and it passed a technical inspection just 4 days ago.4. The renovation of this specific part of the infrastructure finished on May 2025, so it's practically new.Spanish high speed trains are one of the best in the world and it had plenty investment from governments of different sign over the years. This has nothing to do with the regional network (Cercanias) and the local struggles in certain regions.IMHO, this is a horribly timed accidental technical issue.https://english.elpais.com/spain/2026-01-19/at-least-39-dead...https://archive.ph/Ase0v
  • andy12_
    The most important context is this image[1] from the Guardia Civil. Using Google Maps, and using as context the tree, post and yellow connection box in the image, we can place its location at 180m before the accident in the tracks of the Iryo train. The image appears to show a track welding failure. This would match the reports of some passengers[2] that reported that the "train started shaking violently" before the accident.Photo at 38.00771000519087, -4.565435982666953Accident at 38.009292813090475, -4.564960554581273[1] https://img2.rtve.es/im/16899875/?w=900[2] https://x.com/eleanorinthesky/status/2012961856520917401?s=2...
  • eudamoniac
    As an American with no good rails, I've always been curious: what stops a crazy person from throwing a boulder onto the high speed tracks, or a raccoon getting on it, or other such derailment attempts? Is there high security electric fencing all around the track the whole route or something like that?
  • jonp888
    For many years the Spanish state-owned company RENFE had a monopoly on Spain's huge high speed rail network. However their high prices, inconvenient schedules and poor customer service were often criticized, and so when, to the annoyance of RENFE and many spanish politicians, additional foreign operators entered the market on the key Madrid - Barcelona route, ridership doubled whilst ticket prices halved.So I would standby for this tragedy to be used for political purposes to try and get foreign operators banned from Spanish tracks, regardless of the facts of the matter.
  • sillysaurusx
    If you’re interested in this kind of thing, look up plainly difficult on youtube. He has more videos on train crashes than I’ve seen, and I’m embarrassed how many I’ve seen. Here’s one to get you started: https://youtu.be/VV2rIHEp5AM?si=sSBT9s49PqbLTGbtThere are a lot of safety lessons embedded in these videos, which is why I like them. I also did a double take when I heard "semaphore"; its history goes back far longer than the ~century of software engineering. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semaphore
  • igleria
    Taking the commuter train to and from Dublin, sometimes another train on the other direction passes and it's a bit unnerving. I cannot imagine such a collision between two high speed trains :(
  • zhfanlqeo
    The train in question is a Frecciarossa 1000 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frecciarossa_1000The Italians designed it but won't run it at more than 300km/h in Italy citing local infrastructure concerns. I guess that leaves other countries to find the edge cases. I'll be interested to find out how fast it was going during the crash.
  • dust42
    From the aerial imagery it looks like the accident sequence started at the track switch [1]. The RENFE is rested south of it and the Iryo is north. Quite similar to the 1998 Eschede ICE accident which started with a broken wheel rim and finally derailed at a track switch.I wonder how anybody knows that it was the Iryo train that caused the accident.[1] https://maps.app.goo.gl/Cek9DgChguXJxVpd6
  • thecopy
    As a reference, ~1500-2000 people die every year due to cars in Spain.
  • elnatro
    The current government has been found to be cutting corners in maintaining the Cercanías commuter railway network[1]. Indeed last year some machinists had to derail a train to stop it from crashing other[2].The former Transport Minister is jailed because of corruption in public contracts, and hiring prostitutes[3][4].The government is doing a poor job maintaining the current railway network.[1]: https://www.eldebate.com/espana/madrid/20251119/cercanias-ma...[2]: https://www.vozpopuli.com/espana/tren-accidentado-renfe-reco...[3]: https://www.infobae.com/espana/2025/12/23/adif-altero-puntua...[4]: https://www.elespanol.com/espana/tribunales/20250412/koldo-e...
  • hexbin010
    Blame game has started. Minister saying the track was renewed in May. Train operator saying the train was inspected 4 days ago.I'm in Spain currently. Very sad news.
  • aarroyoc
    Updated to 39 people now, but probably the number can still go up
  • utopiah
    Terrible and condolences to anybody affected.For a bit of context according to the OECD 2023 Spain had ~1800 on the road during the previous year, so that's about 5/day. There are more deaths on the road in Spain in a couple of weeks than this tragic accident. Either way it's too many deaths obviously but I want to highlight what a freak event this is compared to a more popular mode of transportation.Edit : Motivation behind that clarification https://ourworldindata.org/does-the-news-reflect-what-we-die... read some months ago but that stuck with me.
  • christkv
    Yes. The Frecciarossa 1000 (ETR 1000) is an EMU, and the trainset’s coaches/cars are equipped with braking equipment as part of the integrated braking system—so it’s not “only the power cars” doing the braking.So my first gut instinct is that one wagons breaks malfunctioned and suddenly applied breaking power since it was the last two wagons that went off.
  • deadbabe
    Always try to sit in seats where your back is toward the direction of motion.
  • t1234s
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  • OutOfHere
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  • alphadatavault
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  • salynchnew
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  • shevy-java
    What is tragic is that the high tech approach here ("super-fast trains") does not put security at the forefront. This should have been the number #1 criterium from the get go, already during the planning stage. The usual reason this is not done is because of cutting down on costs, but just simple things such as: how can it be possible that another train comes by at the same time and crashes? This would not have prevented the one train going off, but you have to wonder how that is even possible design-wise to catch two trains. And even trains going off, should not be possible - this can most assuredly be detected as it happens, so what counter-measures are available to minimize damage and maximize safety?