Rail Fracture Likely Occurred Before Deadly Spanish Train Crash, Investigators Say

The crash resulted in the deaths of 45 people, according to the latest figures from the Spanish Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility.

In this screenshot from video provided by Guardia Civil, rescue workers are seen at the scene of a high-speed train collision, in Adamuz, Spain, on Jan. 19, 2026. Guardia Civil via AP

A rail fracture likely occurred before a high-speed train derailed and crashed into another high-speed train, resulting in dozens of fatalities, Spanish investigators said in a preliminary report published on Jan. 23.

At around 7:45 p.m. local time on Jan. 18, a train belonging to private rail operator Iryo collided with an oncoming train from state-owned company Renfe, near Adamuz in the province of Córdoba, about 223 miles south of the capital, Madrid.