How 40 People Died In a Train Crash in Andalucia, Spain

The New York Times • January 19, 2026 • world

Key Points:

A high-speed train to Madrid collided with another train near Adamuz in southern Spain, resulting in at least 40 deaths in the deadliest railway crash in Spain since 2013.
The collision occurred when two cars of the Madrid-bound train derailed and crossed onto the track of an oncoming southbound train, which then slammed into the carriages and went down a 12-foot embankment.
Passengers experienced violent shaking, loss of lights, and had to break windows to escape, with some calling for medical assistance over the public-address system.
The crash has deeply shocked Spain, a country proud of its extensive and efficient national rail network, the largest in Europe and second largest worldwide.