Broken Rail Joint Identified as Key Evidence in Spain Train Disaster That Killed 40

Investigators examining the cause of Sunday's deadly high-speed train crash near Adamuz have discovered a broken joint on the track that created a widening gap between rail sections, according to a source briefed on the preliminary investigation. The finding could prove crucial to understanding why the derailment occurred, as Spain mourns 40 confirmed deaths in one of Europe's worst railway disasters in recent decades.

The faulty joint produced a gap between the rail segments that expanded as trains continued to operate on the line, the source told Reuters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation. Technicians found wear on the fishplate connecting sections of rail, with evidence suggesting the fault had existed for some time before Sunday's catastrophic failure.

How the Derailment Unfolded

The initial carriages of the Iryo train traveling from Málaga to Madrid passed over the gap in the rails without incident, but the eighth and final carriage derailed at approximately 7:45 PM on January 18. The derailment pulled down the seventh and sixth carriages, which then crossed onto the adjacent track directly into the path of an oncoming Renfe train heading from Madrid to Huelva.

The Iryo train was traveling at 110 kilometers per hour when it derailed, according to Renfe President Álvaro Fernández Heredia. Twenty seconds later, the second train, moving at 200 kilometers per hour, either collided with the final two carriages of the Iryo train or struck debris on the line. The impact caused the first two carriages of the Renfe train to derail and tumble down a four-meter embankment.

Investigators revealed that the Iryo train lost a wheel during the derailment that has not yet been located. This missing wheel may provide additional forensic evidence about the sequence of events that led to the collision.

Track Maintenance Concerns Raised Before Crash

The discovery of the faulty rail joint has intensified scrutiny of track maintenance practices on Spain's high-speed network. Train drivers' union SEMAF disclosed on Monday that it had written to rail operator Adif in August 2025 to warn about severe wear and tear on high-speed rail tracks, claiming their concerns had been overlooked.

The union cautioned Adif about potholes, bumps and imbalances in overhead power lines that were causing frequent breakdowns and damaging trains. SEMAF emphasized it did not know the cause of Sunday's accident but argued that railway infrastructure had deteriorated due to insufficient maintenance investment.

Adif records show the company has previously reported infrastructure problems at Adamuz, including signaling failures and issues with overhead power lines that caused delays to high-speed trains between Madrid and Andalusia at least 10 times since 2022. The government faced criticism throughout 2025 for a series of delays on the network caused by power outages and theft of copper cables from the lines, with the network proving vulnerable as it crosses large stretches of empty countryside.

Recent Inspection Found No Train Problems

Adding to the complexity of the investigation, the Iryo train itself underwent a routine inspection just four days before the crash. Train manufacturer Hitachi Rail conducted the scheduled inspection on January 15 and reported no irregularities, according to sources familiar with the examination.

Transport Minister Óscar Puente confirmed the train was less than four years old and noted that the railway track at the crash site had undergone complete renovation in May 2025. The train model involved was a Frecciarossa 1000, the same type used successfully in Italy's high-speed rail network, operated by Iryo, a private rail service largely owned by Italian state-run railway group Ferrovie dello Stato.

Ignacio Barrón, head of Spain's Commission of Investigation of Rail Accidents, told RTVE that investigators are focusing on the interaction between the track and the vehicle. The commission has not yet issued public comments on the broken joint discovery, and Adif and the transport ministry have also remained silent on the preliminary findings.

Death Toll and Rescue Operations

The official death toll reached 40 by late Monday as emergency crews continued working to recover bodies from the twisted wreckage. Andalusian regional president Juan Manuel Moreno described the crash site as a mangled mass of metal and said rescue teams faced significant difficulties bringing in heavy equipment needed to lift the wreckage and reach those still trapped beneath it.

Twelve people remain in intensive care, including one child, with their conditions described as critical. An additional 24 individuals sustained serious injuries requiring hospitalization across six healthcare facilities in the region. A total of 43 missing person reports have been filed at police headquarters in Huelva, Madrid, Málaga, Córdoba and Seville, though authorities caution that some reports may involve people who have already been identified among the casualties.

Spain's Civil Guard is collecting DNA samples from family members who fear they have loved ones among the unidentified dead. The process of formally identifying all victims continues as forensic teams work through the wreckage.

National Response and Investigation Timeline

Spain began three days of national mourning on Tuesday, with flags lowered on all public buildings and navy vessels. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the crash site on Monday morning and canceled his planned attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. King Felipe and Queen Letizia are scheduled to visit the site on Tuesday.

Sánchez vowed to conduct a comprehensive inquiry with full transparency, promising that all findings would be disclosed to the public. The investigation is expected to take at least one month according to Transport Minister Puente, who has urged against speculation while forensic examinations continue.

The crash occurred on a flat, straight section of track, making the derailment particularly puzzling to investigators. Puente called the accident truly strange given the favorable track conditions and recent renovation work completed less than eight months before the disaster.

Impact on Rail Services

High-speed rail services between Madrid and Andalusia remained canceled on Tuesday, causing major disruptions across southern Spain. Spanish airline Iberia added flights to Seville and Málaga to help stranded travelers, while bus companies reinforced their services in affected regions.

The suspension affects the Madrid-Seville, Madrid-Málaga and Madrid-Huelva routes, representing some of the busiest corridors on Spain's extensive high-speed network. Rail operators have not announced when normal service will resume, citing the need to complete safety inspections across the entire route.

Broader Safety Questions

Sunday's disaster marks Spain's worst rail accident since the Santiago de Compostela crash in July 2013, when 80 people died after a train derailed on a curve while traveling at excessive speed. That incident led to significant changes in safety protocols and driver training across the Spanish rail network.

The discovery of a faulty track joint raises fundamental questions about inspection procedures and maintenance standards on Spain's high-speed network, which had maintained an excellent safety record in the years following the Santiago reforms. Railway safety experts are now examining whether current inspection intervals and techniques are sufficient to detect developing problems before they cause catastrophic failures.

As the investigation continues, families of victims, survivors and the broader Spanish public await answers about how a broken rail joint could go undetected on one of Europe's most modern and heavily traveled high-speed railway lines until it caused one of the continent's deadliest train disasters in decades.