OMM Newsroom
A collision between two high-speed trains in central Spain killed at least 64 people on Wednesday, according to regional authorities, renewing scrutiny of rail safety in a country still dealing with the aftermath of January’s deadly crash near Adamuz. Anadolu Agency reported the incident and earlier rail disasters across Europe.
A “Renfe” AVE train struck the rear of a stationary “Iryo” service on the Madrid–Seville line on Oct. 28. Two carriages derailed and fell down an embankment. The trains were carrying 397 and 147 passengers, respectively, regional spokeswoman Esther Padilla said.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene as authorities worked to reach trapped passengers. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez canceled scheduled engagements to monitor the response. The cause remained unknown, and officials warned the death toll could rise.
The collision came nine months after an “Iryo” train derailed near Adamuz in southern Spain and entered the path of an oncoming “Renfe” service, killing 46 people.
Recent disasters in Spain and Portugal
Adamuz, Cordoba, Spain (2026): An “Iryo” train travelling from Malaga to Madrid derailed near Adamuz in Cordoba province on Jan. 18, 2026. Its rear carriages entered the adjacent track and collided with a “Renfe” Alvia train travelling from Madrid to Huelva.
The death toll reached 46 after a 42-year-old passenger died in hospital on Jan. 30. It was Spain’s deadliest rail crash since the 2013 derailment near Santiago de Compostela.
Investigators focused on a broken rail and a possible failure at a welded joint. “RTVE” reported in September that a Guardia Civil inspection document identified a fracture where rail segments manufactured in 1989 and 2023 had been joined.
The findings strengthened an existing hypothesis but did not establish a final cause. Transport Minister Oscar Puente said laboratory examinations were needed before conclusions could be drawn, distinguishing evidence of a fracture from proof of how the crash began.
Gloria funicular, Lisbon, Portugal (2025): The Gloria funicular derailed on a steep central Lisbon street on Sept. 3, 2025, and crashed into a building, killing 16 people. Portuguese news agency “Lusa” later reported that 24 people were injured, including nine seriously.
Inaugurated in 1885, the service connects Restauradores Square with the Bairro Alto neighbourhood. Its two cabins are linked by a cable, with the descending cabin helping counterbalance the one climbing the hill.
The cable broke at its attachment to one cabin. An October 2025 preliminary investigation found that it failed to meet specifications and was not certified for passenger transport. It also identified shortcomings in maintenance and oversight, while cautioning that the cable’s non-compliance had not been established as the reason it broke.
Portugal declared a day of national mourning, and other Lisbon funicular services were halted for inspections. By the first anniversary, investigators had postponed publication of their final report until the first quarter of 2027 because of the complexity of the technical examinations.
Rail crashes in Greece, Italy and Belgium
Tempi, near Larissa, Greece (2023): A passenger train carrying more than 350 people collided head-on with a freight train near Tempi, close to Larissa, on Feb. 28, 2023. The impact derailed carriages and triggered a fire, killing 57 people in Greece’s deadliest rail disaster.
Many of the victims were university students returning to Thessaloniki, and nine railway crew members were also among the dead. The trains had been travelling in opposite directions on the same track.
An investigation report released on Feb. 27, 2025, described a combination of human error, inadequate training, outdated infrastructure and systemic failures. It examined how an undertrained stationmaster at an understaffed Larissa station routed the passenger train onto the track used by the oncoming freight service.
The aftermath extended beyond the crash investigation. On the second anniversary, a general strike and mass demonstrations brought much of Greece to a halt, as victims’ families and supporters demanded accountability and safer railways.
Andria–Corato, Puglia, Italy (2016): Two trains operated by “Ferrotramviaria” collided head-on between Andria and Corato in southern Italy on July 12, 2016, killing 23 people and injuring dozens.
The crash occurred on a single-track section of the Bari–Barletta railway, near a bend bordered by olive groves that restricted the drivers’ view of one another. The front carriages were destroyed, while the absence of a direct access road complicated rescue efforts in the summer heat.
Train movements on the section were controlled through a telephone system: stationmasters had to obtain clearance from the next station before authorising a departure. The investigation examined failures in those safety procedures.
On Oct. 7, 2026, Italy’s Court of Cassation upheld the convictions of two railway workers and the acquittals of “Ferrotramviaria” and two managers. According to “ANSA”, the final ruling attributed the collision to human error rather than a failure to invest in safety.
Santiago de Compostela, Spain (2013): An “Alvia” train travelling from Madrid to Ferrol derailed on the A Grandeira curve near Santiago de Compostela on July 24, 2013, and struck a concrete wall.
Black box data showed the train was travelling at 179 kilometres per hour when it derailed on a section limited to 80 kilometres per hour. The driver had been distracted by a work-related telephone call and failed to slow down sufficiently before the curve.
The widely reported death toll was 80, although a 2024 court ruling attributed 79 deaths directly to the crash, finding that one passenger’s later death resulted from a serious pre-existing illness.
In January 2026, an appeals court upheld the driver’s sentence of two-and-a-half years for negligent homicide and injuries. It acquitted a former “Adif” safety director who had also been convicted at the initial trial. One of the three judges opposed the decision.
Buizingen, near Brussels, Belgium (2010): Two passenger trains collided almost head-on near Buizingen, southwest of Brussels, on Feb. 15, 2010, killing 19 people and injuring 171.
A local train travelling from Leuven to Braine-le-Comte collided with an InterCity service from Quievrain to Liege during the morning rush hour. The official investigation reconstructed the accident as occurring after the local train passed a red signal at about 60 kilometres per hour.
The driver applied the emergency brake after seeing the other train crossing its path but could not prevent the collision. A third train approaching the scene stopped in time.
Investigators concluded that relying on drivers to comply with signals was insufficient and called for automatic speed and braking protection. Rail operator “SNCB” and infrastructure manager “Infrabel” were later found partly responsible and fined following legal proceedings.
