Sánchez faces election blow after second Spanish rail crash kills 68

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared three days of national mourning on Thursday following a high-speed rail collision that killed 68 people in central Spain.

The crash occurred on Wednesday in the province of Toledo, where a train operated by the state-owned RENFE struck a stationary train from the private operator IRYO from behind. Regional authorities confirmed the death toll exceeded 60, with dozens of additional victims hospitalized. The accident took place on a rural stretch of track lined with olive groves, just four weeks before Spain holds its national election.

This is the second fatal high-speed rail disaster in Spain this year. In January, 46 people died when a train derailed and struck another vehicle in southern Spain. The Spanish high-speed network, which ranks second globally in track mileage after China, had not suffered a deadly crash since entering service more than three decades ago. The system carried 45 million travelers in the previous year, including millions of tourists.

Transport Minister Óscar Puente attributed the crash to a failure in the central command system. He stated that a computer malfunction stopped the security system on a 63-kilometer section of track at 8:30 a.m., causing all trains to halt. The IRYO train stopped near the town of Urda, while the RENFE train remained 25 kilometers behind. Minutes later, the central command ordered the RENFE train to resume travel without speed restrictions despite an active stop signal. The collision occurred at 8:53 a.m. when the moving train hit the stationary one. Puente said the train engineers were not at fault and described the command order as inexplicable.

Sánchez visited the crash site after the initial death toll was reported. He pledged a full investigation and promised improvements to the safety infrastructure. "It is clear that we need to reinforce the safety of our train service to rebuild the trust in our high-speed rail," Sánchez said. He added that it is not acceptable for Spain to endure two such accidents in a single year.

The timing of the crash complicates the political landscape for Sánchez ahead of the vote. He called for early elections earlier this month, hoping to capitalize on public discontent regarding housing costs and rents. However, polls indicate his Socialist party faces an uphill battle in the first national election since 2023. Roughly one hour before news of the crash spread, Sánchez posted on the social platform X that there are many reasons to be optimistic about the country.

Political rivals have seized on the event. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the Popular Party, demanded a comprehensive investigation. He stated that his party canceled campaign events for the day to show respect for the victims. "This is the moment to respect the dead, the injured and their families," Núñez Feijóo said. He noted that Spaniards are asking tough questions that require answers.

Santiago Abascal, leader of the far-right Vox party, reacted with more intensity. He described the event as another tragedy and expressed rage over the situation. Abascal, who may seek a coalition with the conservatives, promised to work until the current government is held accountable in court. He referred to the government as a criminal organization, a claim that Sánchez and his wife deny in the context of ongoing corruption accusations.

Minister Puente addressed questions regarding his potential resignation following the second major wreck under his watch. He stated he was fully focused on managing the collision rather than his political future. Emergency workers, including firefighters, police, and soldiers, spent Wednesday moving damaged train parts with cranes and recovering bodies.

Both deadly crashes this year involved a RENFE train and an IRYO train. Spain liberalized its high-speed rail market in 2021, with IRYO beginning service in 2022. The introduction of private operators added complexity to the network that had been previously dominated by the state carrier.