On board a Spanish high-speed train in the aftermath of the system's latest catastrophe

ZAMORA, Spain (AP) — For decades, Spaniards have been avid users of the country’s touted high-speed trains, choosing the Ave, Spanish for “bird,” over driving or flying for work trips or holidays each year.

But two devastating collisions in nine months that killed more than 100 people have shaken confidence in a rail network long hailed for its speed and safety.

Two days after a train collision in central Spain killed 69 people and stunned the nation with horrific images of shredded carriages and bloodied survivors, an Associated Press journalist spoke to travelers who had decided to keep traveling by train.

“I have to travel for work and am taking the train because I don’t have another option, but I have colleagues who are going by car and won’t take another train until something really changes,” Carla Fuentes, a 37-year-old economist, said before boarding in Madrid for Alicante, in southern Spain.

Fuentes' train was canceled on Thursday due to a strike by train workers to demand improved rail safety.

“It is understandable,” she said about the strike. “Many lives were lost and there are a lot of people who are angry.”

The catastrophe was impossible to forget once aboard the train from Madrid to Zamora on Friday, even if most of the passengers were philosophical about whizzing along at 300 kph (186 mph).

Once the train started after a 50-minute delay, the train conductor made an announcement to thank those who had stuck with the Ave.

“I only have words of thanks for your patience and admiration for your decision to continue traveling by train at this time,” he told the passengers.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who faces an election in four weeks, acknowledged Friday at the crash site that authorities must work hard to restore the reputation of the rail service.

“Trust in our high-speed railway has been broken, and the job of this government is to not only understand what went wrong but to offer the solutions so that a tragedy of this magnitude never happens again,” Sánchez said.

The crash in the province of Toledo came just nine months after another collision further south on the same Madrid-Seville line killed 49 people when one train jumped the track and slammed into another coming from the opposite direction.

“I have spent a long time traveling in high-speed trains, but now my confidence has been hurt a bit,” 56-year-old traveler María Rodríguez said on the train to Zamora. “Two accidents in one year, with a lot of casualties. That is serious.”

High-speed trains have transformed Spain, sharply reducing commutes between Madrid in central Spain and major cities, many of them located on the coast.

Since opening its first high-speed line in 1992, Spain has laid 3,900 kilometers (2,400 miles) of high-speed track for its 49 million residents. Only China — with 45,000 kilometers (28,000 miles) for its 1.4 billion people — has more high-speed track, according to the International Union of Railways. The union defines high-speed trains as those traveling at more than 250 kph (155 mph).

It is now the most common mode of travel for both business and pleasure.

Nine million of the 13 million trips made between Madrid and Barcelona in 2024 were made by high-speed rail, according to the Spanish National Markets and Competition Commission. Rail travel is growing: The number of high-speed train passengers in Spain doubled between 2019 and 2025.

On an old, slow train, the 600-kilometer (385-mile) journey between Madrid and Barcelona used to take around seven hours, meaning many business travelers opted to take a plane. Now that trip can be done in 2 ½ hours.

Shorter travel times have made day trips between many Spanish cities possible.

But Spain’s enormous investment in building high-speed rail has come at the expense of slower commuter services, while train workers' unions argue that the administration has not spent enough on maintaining the network.

Adrián Blaya, a 29-year-old data analyst traveling on the Zamora-Madrid line, echoed the common complaint that the service has worsened in recent years with delays and breakdowns becoming habitual.

Ironically, he felt safer than usual following the deadly crash.

“The safest time to travel in Ave is after a tragedy because this is when they are extra careful,” he said. “Today I feel safer traveling because I know they will be focused."

Wilson reported from Barcelona, Spain.

Passengers ride in a car on a high-speed train in Zamora, Spain, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Maria Gestoso) Photo taken with a smartphone.

Passengers head to board their trains at Atocha railway station in Madrid, Spain, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Maria Gestoso) Photo taken with a smartphone.

NEW YORK (AP) — The health of the jobs market, along with updates on several areas of the economy and corporate profits, will fill the calendar this week.

The latest updates also arrive as Americans head to the polls for the Nov. 3 midterm elections that could reshape Congress as inflation continues squeezing households.

Here’s a look at some of the key reports coming in the week ahead.

Several reports this week will provide updates on various aspects of the jobs market, which has remained a relatively resilient part of the economy as stubbornly hot inflation burns household budgets. On Tuesday, the Labor Department will release its Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) for September, providing details on job openings and layoffs for a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, retail and manufacturing. Job openings have remained in a relatively stable range throughout the year and economists expect the most recent report to show a slight rise.

The weekly update on unemployment claims, which are a proxy for layoffs, will be released on Thursday. The closely-watched monthly employment report will be released on Friday. That report will detail hiring by employers during October for a range of industries and sectors. Economists expect little change in hiring from September's disappointing update. Revisions have also shaved more jobs from prior monthly reports.

The weaker employment market adds more worries to an economy already under pressure from inflation. It also makes the Federal Reserve's job more complicated. The central bank is expected to raise its benchmark interest rate again before the year ends in an effort to cool inflation. But it also has a goal of seeking maximum employment, and higher rates that slow economic growth tend to hurt the jobs market.

Monthly reports from the Institute for Supply Management have shown that the overall economy is expanding. That trend for slight growth is expected to have continued in October. The manufacturing report will be released on Monday, while the report on the more economically influential services sector will be released on Wednesday.

The reports also include commentary from businesses on the conditions they are facing and higher costs have dominated their concerns. Many businesses are facing more stress over operations and planning because of inflation driven by an erratic U.S. trade conflict with much of the world and the surging price of oil driven by the U.S. war with Iran. The trade conflict has increased costs for a wide range of materials, while making it difficult for businesses to plan ahead amid the constantly shifting U.S. trade policy.

The U.S. war with Iran has been ongoing since February and has essentially shut down the vital Strait of Hormuz and stifled global oil shipments. That has fueled a leap in gas prices, making shipping more expensive for everything from food to clothing. The main driver for much of the inflation facing households and businesses stems from rising fuel costs.

Corporate earnings from a wide range of businesses this week will help add more detail to the bigger economic picture. Companies focused on travel, technology and clothing are all set to report profits for their most recent quarter and provide forecasts for the rest of the year and beyond.

Nearly half of the companies in the S&P 500 have already reported their latest financial results and Wall Street is currently expecting profits to rise by 30% overall.

Clorox, the maker of bleach and other household staples, will report its results on Monday. Big Tech companies Advanced Micro Devices and Super Micro Computer will report their results on Tuesday. Online travel company Booking Holdings will also report on Tuesday, followed by rival Expedia on Wednesday. Clothing and accessories makers Tapestry and Ralph Lauren will report their results on Thursday.

A hiring sign is seen in Chicago, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

An employee works at the Escape Game Room in Chicago, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)