Spain train collision sparks protest

As of October 29, 2026, at least 69 people were killed when two high-speed trains collided near Toledo, Spain. The accident occurred just after 9 a.m. local time on Wednesday, with one train slamming into the rear of another that had stopped due to a signaling system failure. Both trains were traveling from Madrid to Seville and belonged to Renfe (state-owned) and Iryo (private operator), respectively.

The collision took place near the towns of Mora, Orgaz, and Urda on Spain's high-speed line between Madrid and Seville. Among the victims was Julieta Gallego, a 24-year-old Spanish long jumper from AD Sprint athletics club.

Spanish authorities have warned that the death toll could rise further. The country has declared three days of mourning following the tragedy, with a minute of silence observed nationwide.

Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing, but early reports suggest issues related to signaling and human error may be factors under scrutiny by investigators and union leaders.