‘Communication failure’ may have caused Spanish train crash that killed at least 68 people

The latest crash has evoked memories of the rail crash in Adamuz just nine months ago,which involved the same operators,and raised questions about the safety of the country’s railways.

The Adamuz tragedy,until now one of Spain’s worst rail disasters,happened in Cordoba province on January 18,killing 46 people and leaving almost 300 injured.

A six-year-old girl was the only survivor of her family,who were travelling home after watching the Lion King musical.

The first train,an Iryo high-speed service,derailed on a straight section of the track before three of its carriages veered onto the opposite track.

A Renfe train carrying 200 people crashed into the derailed carriages some seconds later,causing cars to plunge down the 13ft embankment.

The Adamuz disaster was caused by a fracture in the rail,which had appeared before the crash,an investigation found.

High speed trains in Spain