Spain's Transport Minister Oscar Puente said a high-speed train operated by Renfe was allowed to proceed past a red signal before Wednesday's fatal collision, citing a communications failure and a restart decision that broke protocol.
Puente said a computer communications failure triggered the signal and automatically halted rail traffic. He said the Renfe train was restarted even though another train remained on the line.
A person briefed on the crash told The Independent that a train operated by Spanish train operator Iryo had stopped near Toledo after a signal fault, following instructions from Spain's rail infrastructure manager ADIF. The person said the Renfe train struck the stopped service, derailing several cars on both trains. Renfe and Iryo did not immediately respond to a request for comment, The Independent reported.
Castilla-La Mancha officials had confirmed at least 30 deaths in an earlier update, covered in EconoTimes' report on the regional toll. The Independent described the collision as Spain's second deadly railway accident this year. A Spanish government statement cited in earlier coverage gave the January collision's death toll as 46.
ADIF said high-speed service between Madrid and Andalusia was suspended after the collision, and trains were held at stations. Passenger assistance points opened in Madrid, Seville, Córdoba and Málaga, according to EconoTimes' earlier coverage of the service suspension.
