The initial toll of at least ten dead became even graver over the course of the morning: the government of Castilla-La Mancha now reports at least 30 fatalities following the train collision near Urda. RTVE and Onda Cero/Europa Press report this, citing the regional government. Many others were injured. The toll may rise further as the rescue operation continues.
The accident happened on 28 October at around 8.54 am on the Madrid–Andalusia high-speed line in the province of Toledo. According to information released so far, a Renfe AVE collided with an Iryo train. Onda Cero/Europa Press describes a rear-end collision on the journey towards Seville. The exact causes of the collision are still being investigated.
544 passengers on the two trains
RTVE gives the total number of passengers on the two trains as 544: 397 on the AVE and 147 on the Iryo, including a baby. These figures describe passenger numbers, not the number of injured people. Several carriages derailed; rescue workers are working on the badly damaged vehicles. The passenger figures and initial reports do not allow a complete casualty toll to be calculated.
Coordinated major operation for rescue and assistance
The regional emergency plan PLATECAM was initially activated at 9.15 am and raised to operational level 2 at 10.30 am. According to the official statement, the military emergency response unit UME was requested. Guardia Civil, fire services, civil protection and the SESCAM health service are working at the scene. A forward medical post is intended to organise initial treatment and transport to hospitals; psychosocial support has also been prepared.
For families and friends of those who may have been affected, the region has 900 122 112 set up. Renfe gives 900 10 10 20. It has not been confirmed whether these Spanish information numbers can be reached from abroad.
The line closure affects the entire corridor
In its checked situation update at 11.34 am, Adif continues to report an interruption to the Madrid–Andalusia connection. The accident site is near kilometre 118 between Mora y Orgaz and Urda. Trains on this line are being held at stations. Assistance points are available at Madrid-Atocha, Sevilla-Santa Justa, Córdoba-Julio Anguita and Málaga-María Zambrano.
Anyone planning to travel on this route should check details of their specific train before travelling to the station. For individual bookings, the relevant operator is the point of contact. The checked update gives no confirmed time for reopening the line; a regular timetable cannot currently be inferred from it.
What is not yet known
The confirmed new development is the higher provisional death toll, together with the expansion of the emergency response. There is no confirmed final explanation for why the trains collided. Reports of possible human or technical error should therefore not be read as an established cause of the accident. It is also too early to assign blame.
In January, 46 people died in the Adamuz train accident. It is natural to be reminded of that tragedy; nevertheless, the investigation into the new accident near Urda must stand on its own. Similarities in initial reports are no substitute for technical findings.
Sources checked: 28 October 2026, 13.40 (Madrid). Independent update report following the initial report from this morning. Figures for casualties and rail services are provisional.
To the initial report from this morning
Sources and further information
Prepared with AI assistance and checked against the sources cited. Cover image: original schematic information graphic, not a photograph of the accident.