Arabic version: تسجيلات صوتية تكشف تفاصيل الاتصالات قبل حادث قطار إسبانيا

According to BBC News, audio recordings published by Spanish media reveal exchanges between train drivers and a railway control centre before a crash that killed at least 68 people and injured dozens. The collision occurred on Wednesday morning when a train travelling from Madrid to Seville struck a stationary train.

The recordings, published by outlets including El Pais and RTVE, appear to show that a high-speed Renfe train was cleared to move although an Iryo train had stalled about 25km ahead. A reported computer failure in the automatic signalling system had forced trains to halt on the affected stretch. Spain’s transport minister, Óscar Puente, said the later instruction to move again without speed restrictions was “inexplicable”.

In one exchange, a control-centre operator told the Renfe driver to continue at normal speed under the Lateral Signalling Block, a back-up system used when automatic signalling or data transmission fails. In other recordings, the Iryo driver said the train was stationary at Urda and later reported being unable to control its security system. The recordings suggest the control centre had been told the Iryo train remained stopped as the Renfe service approached.

Renfe’s train had 397 passengers, while Iryo said its train, carrying 147 passengers, was struck from behind. Spain began three days of national mourning as emergency crews searched carriages and cleared debris. Hundreds of personnel, drones and helicopters were deployed. Rail drivers are expected to proceed with a planned Thursday strike, which the Spanish Union of Railway Drivers said would be held “in defence of railway safety”.