An investigation into the recent high-speed train derailment in Spain, which resulted in the tragic deaths of at least 40 individuals, has revealed that a broken rail joint was a contributing factor. The incident, considered one of Europe’s worst train disasters in recent times, occurred near Adamuz in Cordoba, approximately 360 kilometers south of Madrid. Following the derailment, emergency services reported that twelve individuals were in intensive care.
Upon analyzing the rail tracks at the accident site, technicians discovered wear on a specific joint known as a fishplate. This wear indicated a pre-existing fault that had developed over time, creating a gap between the rail sections that widened with continued train traffic. The faulty joint is believed to be a crucial element in understanding the root cause of the accident.
The Commission of Investigation of Rail Accidents in Spain, tasked with investigating the disaster’s causes, has not yet provided any comments on the matter. Similarly, both the Spanish rail operator, Adif, and the Spanish transport ministry, which oversees the investigation commission, have not responded to inquiries.
President Álvaro Fernandez Heredia of Renfe, the operator of one of the derailed trains, stated that it was premature to determine the cause of the accident. However, he noted that the circumstances surrounding the incident were unusual, suggesting that human error was unlikely to be the primary factor.
A letter from a Spanish train drivers’ union, dated last August, warned of significant wear and tear on high-speed rail tracks, including the section where the collision occurred. The union raised concerns about frequent breakdowns caused by potholes, bumps, and imbalances in overhead power lines, with reports of these issues being daily and no corresponding actions taken by the operator.
Initial investigations revealed that the first carriages of the train passed over the rail gap, but the eighth carriage derailed, causing subsequent carriages to follow suit. The rail operator, Iryo, is a private company majority-owned by Italy’s Ferrovie dello Stato. Authorities have marked the area of the incident for forensic inspection, and Spanish officials, including Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Transport Minister Oscar Puente, visited the crash site.
Puente mentioned that the derailed train was relatively new, having been in operation for less than four years, and that the railway track had undergone complete renovation in May. An inspection conducted by the train manufacturer, Hitachi Rail, revealed no anomalies during routine maintenance on January 15. The train involved in the incident, a Frecciarossa 1000 model, is commonly used in Italy’s high-speed rail network.
Global Affairs Canada confirmed that there were no reported Canadian citizens affected by the train derailment.