People line up to donate blood in Madrid following fatal high-speed rail crash

People in Madrid have been lining up to donate blood outside a donation van for people injured during a fatal high-speed train crash in Urda, Spain, on Wednesday. At least 69 people were killed during the crash, and around 50 injured remain in hospital.

The crash follows a fatal accident in January that occurred on the same line, involving the same rail companies. It has added to urgent debate around the safety of Spain’s railways.

Spain has declared three days of national mourning for those killed in the crash.

Spain’s transport minister, Oscar Puente, says the crash happened after several trains stopped because of a signal failure. Puente said a Renfe train was then authorised to proceed at a normal speed, despite a stationary Iryo-operated train ahead.

Puente defended Spain’s railway system, saying it was “reliable and safe … with the limits of the material itself and of human action, as is the case with any form of transport”.

The Spanish government called the decision to allow the Renfe train to continue “inexplicable”.

Unions blame a lack of funding and inaction on safety improvements.

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