Urda judge orders more crane crews as victim search continues

The judge investigating the Urda rail crash urgently ordered the crane contractor to provide more workers and relief shifts on Sunday after a staffing shortage stopped wreckage removal overnight. Work resumed that morning.

The collision happened on Wednesday near Urda in Toledo province, when a Renfe high-speed train struck a stationary Iryo service. Sixty-nine people were killed.

Recovery and identification work

The High Court of Justice of Castilla-La Mancha said the instruction was intended to keep crews working continuously at the crash site. The contractor was told to supply enough staff and organise shifts so that workers could be relieved.

Post-mortem examinations have been completed for all 69 people who died. The latest statement from the identification body said all but three victims had been identified, while three missing-person reports remain open.

Some contacted families have said they want to travel to Spain for identification in person, and the authorities are awaiting their arrival.

On Sunday, 31 injured people remained in hospitals in Castilla-La Mancha, including 13 in intensive care. A further 10 were receiving hospital treatment in the Madrid region.

Madrid–Andalusia disruption continues

The Madrid–Andalusia high-speed corridor remains closed. Renfe's wider replacement plan cannot begin before Tuesday, 3 November, after the Semaf drivers' union required the 96-hour notice period for timetable changes to be respected.

Renfe has said it will announce the routes, timetables, available services and final start date before 3 November. Until then, passengers still lack a complete rail replacement plan for journeys between Madrid and Andalucía.

The separate Madrid–Ciudad Real–Puertollano replacement link is operating entirely by road through 3 November. The Madrid–Ciudad Real leg takes about two and a half hours, with roughly 30 minutes more to reach Puertollano.

Sources: Spain English; The Guardian; La Vanguardia; 20minutos.