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Three old computers caused the signaling failure that preceded the rail collision in Spain, which left 68 people dead

Raluca Ioana Draghici

29 October 2026, 08:25

International

Oscar DEL POZO / AFP / Profimedia

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Three computers installed in the 1990s were behind a signaling failure that preceded the collision between the AVE and Iryo trains, which occurred on Wednesday in Spain. The accident left at least 68 people dead and 183 injured, 107 of whom were hospitalized.

The LZB system at Urda station failed at around 8:30 a.m. due to a communication error between the three computers. The failure required traffic to be switched to manual mode, and Adif operators began managing train movements through the auxiliary BSL system and via instructions relayed to drivers.

At 8:36 a.m., the driver of AVE train 2080, which had 378 people on board, was ordered to reconnect the LZB system and continue his journey at normal speed. The train reached 200 km/h, although the signal was red. At 8:53 a.m., after 25 kilometers, the train rear-ended the Iryo train, which was stopped at the entrance to Urda station.

The computers were due to be replaced by January 2026 as part of a €94 million Adif project. The Transport Minister pointed to human error, but unions and experts dispute assigning full responsibility to a single employee and are calling for a review of the protocols and automated safety systems.

Context: Spanish authorities cited possible “human error,” while a Romanian from Toledo intervened during the evacuation

In the first statements after the accident, the Spanish Transport Minister cited a possible “human error” as a contributing factor in the tragedy, after the signaling system allegedly failed and the control center nevertheless authorized a train to resume its journey. He maintained that this was not a case for resignation and said that Spain’s railway system is safe, with the investigation set to determine responsibility.

Meanwhile, Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bucharest announced that, at that time, there was no information indicating Romanian citizens among the victims. In Toledo province, however, a Romanian who had been living in Spain for approximately 30 years was among the first to intervene: he witnessed the collision, alerted the authorities, and helped create an opening in the protective fence so that nearly 200 passengers could leave the track area.