A high-speed train collision in southern Spain on Tuesday has resulted in at least 39 fatalities and approximately 100 injuries, marking one of the country’s deadliest rail accidents in decades. The incident, near the town of Adamuz in Córdoba province, involved an Iryo train and a Renfe Alvia, halting rail service between Málaga and madrid and raising immediate questions about safety on Spain’s extensive high-speed network. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the derailment, which occurred on a recently renovated section of track [[1]].
At least 39 people were killed and approximately 100 injured, 30 of them seriously, when two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain on Tuesday afternoon. The incident, which has paralyzed rail traffic in the region, is prompting questions about safety protocols on Spain’s extensive high-speed rail network.
The crash occurred near the town of Adamuz in Córdoba province when a train operated by Iryo, traveling from Málaga to Madrid, derailed and collided with a Renfe train heading in the opposite direction towards Huelva.
Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente described the derailment as “tremendously strange,” noting that it happened on a straight section of recently renovated track with a “practically new” high-speed train. “This is a truly unusual event,” he said.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the derailment, but Minister Puente cautioned against speculation. He stated that a commission has been established to determine what occurred, and any premature conclusions would be “pure speculation.”
Puente emphasized that the Iryo train involved is less than four years old and that the railway infrastructure in the area had been renovated in May 2025, representing an investment of around 700 million euros. “Therefore, the accident is tremendously strange,” he reiterated.
According to the Spanish Railway Administration (Adif), the Iryo train, LD AV 6189 Málaga – Puerta de Atocha, derailed on the approach tracks to track 1 in Adamuz, encroaching onto the adjacent track. A Renfe train, LD AV 2384 Puerta de Atocha – Huelva, was traveling on that adjacent track and also derailed.
The Iryo train departed Málaga at 6:40 PM Spanish time, and the collision occurred approximately an hour later, according to the newspaper ABC, when the last three carriages of the high-speed train derailed and crossed into the path of the oncoming Renfe train from Puerta de Atocha.
The driver of the Alvia train traveling to Huelva was among those killed in the crash.
The accident has brought rail service between Málaga and Madrid to a standstill.
The derailed Iryo train belongs to a private consortium operating high-speed services in Spain, while the opposing train was a Renfe Alvia, also a high-speed service capable of reaching 250 kilometers per hour.
The cause of the derailment of the Iryo train’s final carriages remains unknown. Engineer Jorge Trigueros, speaking to Spanish television, suggested a possible mechanical issue with the wheels as one potential cause.
What is the Renfe Alvia train?
The Renfe Alvia train traveling from Puerta de Atocha to Huelva typically covers approximately 600 kilometers in an average of 4.5 hours, reaching speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour.
What is the Iryo train that runs Málaga-Puerta de Atocha?
The Iryo train service between Málaga and Madrid operates five times daily, completing the journey in 2 hours and 44 minutes. Iryo trains, which operate various international high-speed routes, can reach speeds of 350 kilometers per hour.
