A fracture in a straight section of track occurred prior to the passage of a high-speed train that derailed, causing last Sunday's rail disaster in which 45 people died, an initial report has found.
A train run by private company Iryo derailed last Sunday and its rear carriages crossed onto the opposite track into the path of an oncoming train run by state-owned Renfe.
The CIAF rail investigation commission stated not only did the Iryo train's front carriages, which stayed on the track, have notches in their wheels, but that three earlier trains had similar issues as well.
A 40cm gap in the track has become the focus of scrutiny regarding the crash.
The deadly collision occurred around 19:45 local time, shortly after the Iryo train departed Málaga for Madrid. The last three carriages of the Iryo train derailed and collided with the Huelva-bound Renfe train.
Most fatalities were found in the front carriages of the state-operated train.
Earlier this week, Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente confirmed that grooves were found on the wheels of the Iryo train’s carriages, indicating compatibility with a fractured track.
The preliminary report stated that the notches in wheels and deformation of the track suggest a crack that was not detected prior to the accident.
This incident marks Spain's worst rail disaster in over a decade, surpassing the tragic 2013 derailment that resulted in 80 deaths.
