Spain halts Madrid-Andalusia high-speed rail after two trains crash

High-speed train travel between Madrid and the southern region of Andalusia was halted on Wednesday after two passenger trains collided, according to Spanish rail infrastructure manager Adif.

The collision took place shortly after 9 a.m. local time on the corridor connecting the capital with Seville. The crash occurred along a stretch of track situated between the towns of Mora and Orgaz in central Spain, authorities confirmed.

The incident involved a train operated by the state-run carrier Renfe and another run by the private operator Iryo. According to a spokesperson for the regional government of Castilla-La Mancha, the impact was a rear-end collision that led to the derailment of two carriages on the Iryo train. Both services were traveling along the route heading toward Seville when the impact occurred.

Emergency responders were deployed to the area immediately following the crash. Official figures on the total number of injuries and the severity of any harm to passengers or crew were not immediately available, as assessment teams continued their work at the scene. Investigators are also working to determine the precise circumstances that led to the crash.

Local authorities in surrounding communities have taken steps to support the emergency response. Manuel Galan, the mayor of the nearby town of Urda, near Toledo, stated that emergency services requested the preparation of a municipal sports facility to help receive and care for injured passengers.

Adif confirmed the complete suspension of high-speed rail traffic along the Madrid-Andalusia route while recovery teams manage the site and clear the tracks. Passengers traveling along the heavily used route are facing significant disruption as emergency personnel remain on site.