Two high-speed trains collide near Toledo, Spain

evilmonkey19

https://elpais.com/espana/2026-10-28/ultima-hora-del-choque-... https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/28/spain-high-speed-train-crash... https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2026/10/28/toledo-tr... https://www.reuters.com/live/spain-train-crash-live-deaths-i...

silverFork

How is this even possible in this day and age. It can be all automated, double and quad checked enroute ..

dist-epoch

> El Mundo is reporting that the Iryo train flagged a failure in its LZB signalling system 10 minutes before the crash, but the train behind did not receive the information due to a potential human error. > Investigators believe the AVE high-speed train travelling behind crashed into the stationary Iryo service. > A human error by an [state-owned railway infrastructure company] Adif operator in response to a malfunction in the main signaling system is the likely cause of the accident, government sources said. This safety system is automated, but when it fails, it switches to manual mode. That is why the trains came to a stop when the automatic safety system failed, and service resumed under human control - and that is where the error occurred, according to initial analyses. https://www.elmundo.es/economia/2026/10/28/6ae1c9a1e9cf4a372...

ethfan

When LZB drops out, does the fallback to ASFA plus verbal authorization actually enforce block separation, or is it basically just driver discipline at 300 km/h?

swed420

Already posted 3 hours ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50271032

billbuild

10 deaths at last count. Amazing it's not 100% dead.

purpleidea

The incompetence in the world that is likely the underlying cause for this, is a serious cancer that is ruining our society. We need to speak out even against what seems like lesser issues, because we normalize that behaviour until it perverts everything.

coopykins

It's become a real risk to take a train in Spain. Two severe accidents in the same year on what's typically considered the safest transport method. I can't remember the last time I read good news related to my country.

AlexITC

This is a very unfortunate event, On another topic, I shall reconsider using bus over train for my trips.

ChrisArchitect

[dupe] Earlier: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50271032

silverFork

A simple solution would be for all trains to have self recoding GPS which they probably all have and log their location on an internet map plus marking all the switches and allow open viewing to public and passengers to monitor their own train versus others. Ai can also be used to set the alarm.

ck_one

Atlas Shrugged in real life

electroweak

How come we have collision avoidance mandated and working in 3 and 2 dimensions (TCAS, AEB), but somehow do not have it in 1-dimensional motion?

pbrum

East Asia: top-tier infrastructure, well maintained Europe: second-best-tier infrastructure, rapidly decaying and overwhelmed USA: Third World-equivalent infrastructure

thundercleeze

How is it that Waymo can safely operate a car on public streets but accidents like this are still possible?

gmargari

This is just 2.5 years after the same thing happened in Greece, killing 57: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempi_train_crash "The disaster occurred after years of multiple warnings from the train drivers' official union, while the current government was passing legislation that would make drivers' ability to strike or take industrial action for safety concerns unlawful." "Three weeks before the crash, the rail workers' union had raised concerns over problems with the administration of the rail network which could put the passengers in danger." No not exactly an "accident".

6510

There are all kinds of isolated systems that trigger warnings but the thing that seems to be missing everywhere is a centralized simulation with all the data in it. Or perhaps a series of simulations each slightly further in the future. If any variable changes run it again until it reaches its time stamp. For example, it shouldn't be possible in 2026 for a vehicle to get stuck on the crossing (with cameras) without the train driver getting a notification. You can even power down an entire track if it's obstructed. You might not want self driving, self breaking seems quite desirable.

alkyon

Some days ago I actually traveled on these high speed trains to Madrid (the same route Madrid - Seville). I paid extra to be able to select a middle car seat because of similar disaster that happened in Spain only in January this year: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Adamuz_rail_disaster

nemoniac

A high-speed train collided with a stationary train. The title is misleading.

johnea

Massive disaster! I still wonder how this adds up against the constant daily carnage of automobile transportation?