On Friday, January 23, 2026, Spain’s Commission for the Investigation of Railway Accidents (CIAF) officially released its preliminary technical report on the major train collision in the Adamuz area of Córdoba province. The report states that the direct physical cause of the Iryo high-speed train derailment, which resulted in 45 fatalities, was a “pre-existing rail fracture.”
Technical Evidence: Wheel Dents Reconstruct the Moment of the Accident
Investigators examining the derailed Iryo train found consistent dents on the right-side wheels of its 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th carriages. In the report, CIAF explains that these marks were created by the physical impact of the wheels hitting the head of the broken rail as they passed over the fracture point. Due to this compromised rail structure, when the train passed at high speed, the 6th carriage completely derailed, entered the adjacent track, and ultimately collided catastrophically with an Alvia train operating normally.
A Fatal Oversight? Warning Signs Before the Accident
A key fact revealed in the report is that there were clear signs of the track hazard before the accident occurred. In the hours before the Iryo incident, three other trains—two Iryo and one Renfe—had reported unusual vibrations to the control center after passing through the same section. Subsequent inspections found that the wheel flanges of these three preceding trains also bore the same geometric damage marks as those on the wheels of the accident train. This chain of evidence indicates that the rail damage had existed for some time and posed a tangible threat to multiple trains.
In-depth Investigation: Seeking the Root Cause and Final Accountability
Currently, CIAF has sent the fractured rail sample to a specialized metallurgical laboratory for in-depth analysis. The goal is to determine the root cause of the fracture—whether it was material fatigue, a manufacturing defect, or a serious lapse in routine maintenance. Simultaneously, data from the “black boxes” (event data recorders) of the accident train and the preceding trains is being downloaded and analyzed. CIAF emphasizes that all current conclusions are preliminary. A detailed analysis of the cause, allocation of responsibility, and safety recommendations will be published in the final audit report in the coming weeks.
