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MapSpain Transport Minister Óscar Puente Says Computer Failure Led Renfe To Proceed Before Urda Crash
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Puente says computer failure caused Renfe to proceed despite red signal. The collision near Urda killed at least 68 and injured dozens.
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Crash, deaths, and blame
Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente said a computer failure forced trains to halt on a stretch of track, and he called the subsequent decision to let the Renfe train proceed an "inexplicable" order.
“Continue your journey and then proceed under [Lateral Signalling Block], at normal speed with normal operation.”
The collision occurred at around 8:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday at kilometer marker 118 near Urda on Spain's Madrid-Seville high-speed line, involving a Renfe train and an Iryo train.
The control centre operator told the Renfe driver, "Continue your journey and then proceed under [Lateral Signalling Block], at normal speed with normal operation," while the Iryo driver said the train "is stationary in front of the entry signal at Urda."
Joaquim Torres rushed to help injured passengers and told the network, "I held this woman in my arms and tried to comfort her, but she stopped breathing. She died, she died."
Mourning and political pressure
Spain began three days of national mourning after the crash, and Sebastian Herrero called the scene "apocalyptic" as rescuers pulled people from wreckage. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said authorities were working "day and night" to "get to the bottom of every last detail of this tragedy," as Spain began three days of national mourning.
Protesters clashed with police overnight outside the country’s transport ministry, and riot police used tear gas after far-right protesters gathered. Transport Minister Oscar Puente said the control centre decided to "resume traffic in circumstances that, from our point of view, are inexplicable," and he said the Renfe train traveled 25 kilometres before striking the Iryo.
What happens next
Spain’s government declared three days of official morning from Thursday to Saturday, and King Felipe VI said in a statement, "We'd like to convey to the families our condolences, our sorrow, our support and our affection at such a hard, difficult time."
The Guardia Civil set up four offices in Madrid, Toledo, Córdoba and Seville to enable relatives to provide DNA samples and help identify victims.
Train drivers went ahead with a previously planned strike to press for more investment in railway safety after the crash, and the Guardia Civil force reported 64 people missing by Thursday morning.
Almuñécar observed a minute of silence at 8:00 p.m. in the Plaza de la Constitución next to the Town Hall, with mayor Juan José Ruiz Joya saying, "Today is not the time to look for the responsible. It is the time to be with the families of the victims."