At least 46 people have died and dozens have been injured in a collision between two high-speed trains in Toledo province.
The grim death toll has been reported by respected Spanish newspaper El Español, citing Castilla-La Mancha emergency services.
The crash involved a Renfe AVE and an Iryo train near Urda, between Los Yebenes and Urda, on Wednesday morning.
Investigators are examining whether a signalling failure and possible human error contributed to the fatal collision.
Sources close to the investigation cited by El Correo pointed to a suspected signalling error.
Rail engineering expert Jose Maria Goicolea Ruigomez suggested that a fault could have left trains operating without the LZB automatic protection system.
Speaking to Europa Press, he raised the possibility that services were instead using ASFA, which requires greater intervention from the driver.
That scenario raises questions about both technical safeguards and operational decisions.
Investigators must determine which systems were active, what signals and instructions were received, and why the protections intended to prevent a collision did not stop the crash.
Adif suspended high-speed services between Madrid, Ciudad Real and Andalucia following the collision.
The force of the impact at around 8.54am forced two carriages to fall down an embankment.
The Renfe AVE 2080 had departed Madrid’s Puerta de Atocha station at 8am and was scheduled to reach Sevilla Santa Justa at 10.39am.
Initial accounts suggest the Renfe train struck a stationary Iryo service, causing two of its carriages to derail.
However, conflicting information about the trains’ directions of travel means the precise sequence remains unclear.
El Español reported that trains were operating under lineside signalling following a fault with the LZB train-control system. It has not been established whether that fault contributed to the crash.
Firefighters from Alcazar de San Juan and Orgaz were deployed alongside Civil Protection teams, three medical helicopters and two mobile intensive care units.
Emergency crews are working at the scene as the circumstances of the collision are investigated.
This is a developing story and is being updated regularly.
