International Desk

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has declared three days of national mourning following a devastating train accident that claimed 68 lives. The mourning period began on Thursday (October 29). He also pledged to promptly address any flaws identified in the railway safety system.

According to a BBC report, a detailed investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the accident. The prime minister said necessary measures would be taken to improve safety based on the findings of the investigation.

Pedro Sánchez said 48 people had been killed in another accident on the same railway line in Spain earlier this year. However, an initial review has found no apparent similarities between the current accident and the previous one. A definitive conclusion can only be reached after the full investigation is completed, he added.

He also emphasised the importance of restoring public confidence in Spain’s high-speed rail network. Sánchez said two high-speed train accidents in a single year were unacceptable in a country like Spain. The government would make every effort to regain passengers’ trust, he added.

At Least 68 Killed as Train Crashes into Stationary Train

According to the report, two high-speed trains collided on Wednesday morning (October 28) in the central Spanish province of Toledo. At least 68 people were killed, and the death toll is feared to rise further.

Regarding the cause of the accident, the country’s transport minister said a fault had been detected in the LZB signalling system on the railway line at the accident site. As a result, trains operating in the area were automatically given stop signals.

The two trains involved in the accident were a Renfe high-speed train and an Iryo train. The Renfe train was behind the Iryo train, which was approximately 25 kilometres ahead.

Questions Raised Over Signalling Failure

After the signalling fault was detected, Adif, Spain’s state-owned railway infrastructure manager, took control of train operations. The report said the official in charge allowed the Renfe train to proceed despite the red signal. However, allegations have emerged that no specific speed limit was imposed on the train.

The Renfe train, travelling at approximately 200 kilometres per hour, subsequently crashed into the stationary Iryo train, resulting in the devastating accident.

The investigation is expected to focus on the signalling failure, the authorisation to operate the train and whether the relevant safety protocols were properly followed.