MADRID (The Thursday Times) — A Madrid control centre told the driver of a Spanish high-speed train to carry on “at normal speed” minutes before it ploughed into a stalled train near Urda, audio recordings published by Spanish media show, as the country began three days of national mourning for at least 68 dead.
In one of three recordings released by outlets including El País and the public broadcaster RTVE, a control centre operator tells the Renfe driver: “Continue your journey and then proceed under [Lateral Signalling Block], at normal speed with normal operation.” The driver asks: “At normal speed?” The controller replies: “Yes.” The block is a back-up system used when automatic signalling fails, the BBC reported.
‘The train won’t allow me’
In other recordings, the driver of the Iryo train, about 25km ahead, reports that communication with the train-control system has been lost and that the train is stationary in front of the entry signal at Urda. After being told to resume, the Iryo driver calls back: “The train won’t allow me to control the [security] system. That’s why I am still stopped in front of the entry signal.” The exchange suggests the controller had been told the Iryo train was still stationary as the Renfe train, carrying 397 passengers, approached.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente has called the decision to let trains move again without speed restrictions “inexplicable”, and the ministry says trains should have been limited to 40km/h. The Renfe train reached 200km/h before the collision.
Mourning and anger
“The whole of Spain is grieving,” Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said. “Lives have been shattered, families have been torn apart, the pain is immense.” Most parties suspended campaigning for next month’s general election, but the far-right Vox refused, with its leader Santiago Abascal accusing the government of trying to “use mourning to silence criticism” of the rail network. About 1,500 people protested outside the Transport Ministry overnight, according to TVE.
Emergency crews worked through the night under floodlights to cut open carriages, and many of the dead have yet to be identified. Read our earlier report on the crash.
