Train traffic between Madrid and Andalucía has been suspended following a deadly collision involving two high-speed passenger trains in southern Spain. The crash left at 42 people dead and dozens more injured, Spanish authorities said.
The accident, on late Sunday, prompted a large-scale emergency response and a nationwide investigation into one of the country’s most serious rail disasters in recent years.
The crash occurred near the town of Adamuz, close to Córdoba, when a high-speed train traveling from Málaga to Madrid derailed on a straight section of track and crossed onto an adjacent line, according to rail infrastructure operator Adif. The derailed train then struck an oncoming service heading from Madrid to Huelva.
Spain’s transport minister, Óscar Puente, said many passengers were being treated in hospitals for serious injuries and warned that the death toll could rise as rescue crews continued operations overnight. Andalusian emergency services reported at least 73 people were injured overall.
Puente called the derailment “highly unusual,” noting that the stretch of track had been refurbished in May last year. The cause of the accident has not yet been determined, and officials said a full technical investigation is expected to take at least a month.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the country was facing “a night of deep pain” and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
Total rail service suspension at least on January 19, 2026
Private rail operator Iryo said about 300 passengers were aboard the Málaga-Madrid train, while the second train, operated by state-owned Renfe, was carrying around 100 people.
Emergency crews described difficult rescue conditions due to twisted wreckage. Rail services along the busy Madrid–Andalucía corridor have been suspended as investigators secure the site and assess damage to the infrastructure.
According to local reports, affected stations by the suspension are Madrid-Atocha, Seville, Granada, Cordoba, Malaga, Algeciras and Huelva. The suspension is planned to last at least through Monday, January 19.
