Spain is in a state of national mourning following a catastrophic high-speed train collision today, Monday, 19 January 2026. Emergency services have confirmed that at least 39 people have lost their lives, with dozens more sustaining serious injuries in what is being described as the country’s worst rail disaster in decades.
The collision occurred shortly before 10:00 AM local time on the high-speed line connecting Madrid and Barcelona, near the city of Zaragoza.
According to preliminary reports from the national rail operator, Renfe, a high-speed AVE train carrying over 300 passengers collided with a maintenance locomotive that was reportedly on the same track due to a “catastrophic signalling failure.”
The force of the collision caused the first four carriages of the passenger train to derail, with two carriages flipping onto their sides and sliding down an embankment.
39 fatalities have been confirmed at the scene, and over 60 people have been rushed to hospitals in Zaragoza and Calatayud, with 12 reported to be in critical condition.
Over 200 firefighters, 50 ambulances, and 4 medical helicopters were deployed. Heavy cutting equipment is currently being used to reach passengers still trapped in the mangled wreckage.
Spain’s Prime Minister has declared three days of official mourning and is currently en route to the crash site.
“Today is a day of immense pain for all of Spain. Our hearts go out to the families of those who have perished in this horrific accident. We will find out exactly what went wrong and ensure that such a tragedy never happens again.” – Prime Minister of Spain.
The European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) has already offered its assistance to Spanish authorities to conduct a thorough technical investigation into the signaling system failure.
The Civil Guard and the Ministry of Transport are focusing on two main areas:
Signaling Error: Why the maintenance vehicle was permitted onto a track reserved for an incoming high-speed passenger train.
Braking Systems: Whether the automated emergency braking systems on the AVE train functioned correctly upon detecting an obstacle.
A crisis center has been set up at Zaragoza-Delicias Station for families of the passengers. A dedicated emergency hotline has also been established for those seeking information about loved ones.
