Leaked recordings of conversations between train drivers and a control centre have raised questions about the decisions made moments before a deadly rail crash in Spain that killed 69 people.
The recordings, published by Spanish media outlets, appear to show that a high-speed train operated by state-owned Renfe was cleared to move even though another train operated by private company Iryo remained stationary on the track about 25km (15 miles) ahead.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, which happened on Wednesday morning near Urda, when a train travelling from Madrid to Seville struck the rear of the stationary train.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has pledged that investigators will establish exactly what happened and identify measures to prevent a similar disaster.
Audio Recordings Raise Questions Over Decisions
Three audio recordings published by Spanish news outlets, including El País and RTVE, capture exchanges between Madrid’s control centre and the drivers of the two trains.
In one recording, a controller speaks to the driver of the Renfe train, which was experiencing technical difficulties. After several exchanges, the controller tells the driver to continue the journey and proceed under the alternative signalling system at normal speed.
The driver asks: “At normal speed?”
The controller replies: “Yes.”
The Lateral Signalling Block is a backup or alternative system used when automatic signalling or data transmission fails.
In another recording, the driver of the stationary Iryo train tells the control centre that communication with the train-control system has been lost and the train cannot move.
The driver says the train is stationary in front of the entry signal at Urda. Following further exchanges, the driver is told to resume the journey normally.
However, a later recording captures the Iryo driver contacting the control centre again, explaining that the train’s security system is preventing it from moving.
“The train won’t allow me to control the [security] system. That’s why I am still stopped in front of the entry signal,” the driver says.
The recording suggests that the control centre had been informed that the Iryo train remained stationary as the Renfe train approached.
Iryo said its train had been “struck from behind” by the other train.
Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente described the decision to allow the trains to move again without speed restrictions as “inexplicable”.
69 People Killed in One of Spain’s Worst Rail Disasters
The Renfe train was carrying 397 passengers, while the Iryo train had 147 passengers on board.
A reported failure in the automatic signalling system had forced trains to stop on the affected section of track. Investigators are examining how the trains were subsequently authorised to move.
The crash is among the worst rail disasters in modern European history and Spain’s deadliest train crash since 2013. The country began three days of national mourning on Thursday.
Dozens of people were injured. Survivors described harrowing scenes, including passengers crying and bleeding, people trapped in their seats, severe injuries and smoke filling the carriages. One carriage caught fire.
On Thursday, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited injured passengers in a hospital in Toledo. The King later expressed condolences to victims’ relatives and said the investigation would establish why the crash occurred and what steps should be taken to prevent it happening again.
Political Reaction and Protests
The publication of the recordings has drawn criticism from some Spanish politicians. Alberto Ibáñez, a member of Congress for the left-wing Sumar platform, described the leaks as “despicable” in a post on X.
Irene Montero, a prime ministerial candidate for the left-wing Podemos party, warned against placing responsibility for the crash on a single worker. She said train drivers and experts had been raising concerns about the liberalisation of the railway sector for years.
Speaking at the crash site, Sánchez said the government was working around the clock to support victims’ families, establish the facts and strengthen safety measures.
Most Spanish politicians have cancelled public engagements and suspended campaigning ahead of the snap election scheduled for 29 November.
The far-right Vox party was an exception. Its leader, Santiago Abascal, said his party would not participate in what he described as attempts to “use mourning to silence criticism” of the country’s railway infrastructure.
Around 1,500 people gathered outside the Spanish transport ministry building in Madrid on Wednesday night, according to broadcaster TVE. Many demonstrators reportedly called for the resignations of Sánchez and Puente.
Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd after protesters threw bottles and flares. No injuries or arrests were reported.
Rail Strike and Recovery Operation Continue
Rail drivers went ahead with a planned strike on Thursday. The Spanish Union of Railway Drivers, Semaf, said the action was being held “in defence of railway safety”.
The leader of Spain’s main opposition People’s Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, said the public had a right to know what was happening with the country’s infrastructure.
At the crash site, emergency crews worked through the night under powerful floodlights, cutting through damaged carriages as they searched for victims. Many of those killed had yet to be identified.
Spain’s Interior Ministry said hundreds of personnel had been deployed to assist with recovery operations. Drones and helicopters were also being used to locate victims and remove rubble.
A spokesperson for the Spanish Civil Guard told the BBC that more than 900 personnel from specialist departments had been deployed. Identifying the deceased remained the priority.
The spokesperson said it was not yet clear how long the process would take and urged people with missing relatives to visit local centres established to provide DNA samples.
Source: BBC News
