SPAIN: A serious failure of communications is at the heart of early investigations into the fatal collision between two high speed trains at Urda near Toledo on October 28. Mike Bent analyses how the tragedy unfolded.
The 07.53 Madrid Atocha to Sevilla RENFE Viajeros AVE service, operated by Siemens Mobility Velaro trainset 103-206, was travelling at a speed in excess of 100 km/h when it struck the rear of the stationary 07.40 Madrid to Sevilla Iryo service, formed of a Hitachi Rail-built Series 109 ETR1000 trainset, near the village of Urda in Toledo province, 120 km from Madrid.
The rearmost three cars of the S109 were thrown to the right down an embankment, with the leading car of the S103 embedded almost entirely within the wreckage of the last vehicle. The following cars of the S103 were deflected to the left down the other side of the embankment. The rear cars of the AVE were also derailed, but remained almost upright, with one being pierced by a length of broken rail.
Onboard the S109 were 147 passengers, while the Renfe train was carrying 397. By the evening of October 29, the number of fatalities had risen to 74, with several passengers still unaccounted for as the rescue services continued picking apart the two telescoped driving cars. Earlier reports had confirmed that at least 40 of the victims were onboard the S109, and 24 on the S103 trainset.