Following the tragic derailment of a high-speed train in Spain on Sunday, experts investigating the incident have uncovered a broken joint on the tracks, leading to the deaths of at least 40 individuals. The train derailment resulted in a collision with another train, causing a devastating outcome in one of Europe’s worst train disasters in recent history.
The accident occurred near Adamuz in Cordoba, approximately 360 kilometers south of Madrid. Emergency services reported that twelve individuals were in intensive care following the incident. Technicians examining the rails at the site discovered signs of wear on the rail joint, known as a fishplate, indicating a preexisting fault that had developed over time.
The faulty joint created a gap between the rail sections that expanded with continued train traffic. The technicians believe that this defective joint played a crucial role in causing the accident but emphasized the need for further investigation. The Commission of Investigation of Rail Accidents (CIAF) in Spain, responsible for the overall inquiry into the disaster, and relevant authorities have not yet provided official comments on the matter.
Álvaro Fernandez Heredia, the president of Renfe, the operator of the second derailed train, expressed that it was premature to determine the exact cause of the incident. He noted that the circumstances surrounding the accident were unusual and downplayed the possibility of human error. A union representing Spanish train drivers had previously raised concerns about the deteriorating condition of high-speed rail tracks in a letter to rail operator ADIF, highlighting frequent breakdowns and potential safety hazards.
Initial findings suggest that the first carriages of the train passed over the rail gap, but the last carriages derailed, leading to a chain reaction. The private rail operator, Iryo, which owns the train involved, is majority-owned by the Italian state railway group, Ferrovie dello Stato. Authorities and forensic inspectors have marked and documented the scene, including the visible gap in the rail track.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Transport Minister Oscar Puente visited the crash site, with Sanchez canceling his attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos following the tragedy. Puente revealed that the Iryo train was relatively new, having undergone a complete track renovation last May. The train manufacturer, Hitachi Rail, conducted a routine inspection in January, finding no irregularities. The train model involved in the incident is a Frecciarossa 1000, similar to those used in Italy’s high-speed rail network.
Global Affairs Canada confirmed that there were no reports of Canadian citizens affected by the train derailment.