Spanish track was fractured before high-speed train disaster, report finds
2 months ago
- #rail safety
- #train accident
- #Spain
- A fracture in the track occurred before the high-speed train derailed, leading to 45 deaths.
- The derailed Iryo train's rear carriages crossed onto the opposite track, colliding with an oncoming Renfe train.
- Investigators found 'notches' in the wheels of the Iryo train and three earlier trains that passed over the same track.
- A 40cm gap in the track is a key focus of the investigation.
- The collision happened around 19:45 local time, with the Iryo train's last three carriages derailing.
- Most casualties were in the front carriages of the state-operated Renfe train.
- Grooves on the Iryo train's wheels and track deformation suggest the track was cracked before the derailment.
- Three earlier trains showed similar wheel notches, indicating a recurring issue.
- The CIAF report is a 'working hypothesis' requiring further analysis.
- Spain's transport minister stated it's too early for definitive answers but hinted at a recent track fracture.
- This is Spain's worst rail crash in over a decade, following the 2013 Galicia derailment that killed 80.