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Spain Train Crash: Broken Rail Link Points to Possible Cause – Death Toll Rises to 39

Published January 19, 2026, 16:13
Spain Train Crash: Broken Rail Link Points to Possible Cause – Death Toll Rises to 39

The investigation into the high-speed train derailment in Spain is focusing on a broken rail link, considered a possible cause of the accident that has claimed the lives of at least 39 people. Technicians found damage to the link, which joins sections of the track, estimated to have existed for some time. According to a source informed of the findings, the damage created a gap between the track sections, which gradually widened with the passage of trains. The derailment occurred near Adamuz, in the province of Cordoba, when the derailed carriages collided with a passing train from the opposite direction. The source described the faulty link as a key element in determining the causes of the accident. The Spanish Railway Accident Investigation Commission (CIAF) has taken over the overall investigation, while the president of Renfe stated that it is too early to draw conclusions, however describing the circumstances as “strange” and indicating that human error is unlikely. Initial estimates suggest that the first carriages passed over the gap without derailing, but the last carriages left the track, leading to the tragedy. The manufacturer, Hitachi Rail, had recently inspected the train without detecting any problems.