Spain seeks EU help to investigate deadly rail crash

HotTV

Spain seeks EU help to investigate deadly rail crash

2026-11-05 09:56 Last Updated At：15:29

The Spanish government has requested technical assistance from the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) to investigate a collision between two high-speed trains that killed 69 people near Urda, central Spain, on Oct. 28.

The collision occurred when a train operated by Spain's state-owned railway company Renfe struck the rear of a stationary train operated by private rail company Iryo.

European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas confirmed on Wednesday that the Spanish investigation authority had asked the ERA to support the investigation, and the ERA would provide all the technical assistance needed.

Tzitzikostas said the investigation would remain under the direction and the authority of the Spanish investigators, adding that its aim was to establish the facts.

He cautioned that it was still early to draw conclusions about the cause of the accident, stressing that safety was the first priority across all modes of transport.

Also on Wednesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Trade and Enterprise Carlos Cuerpo would temporarily take charge of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility following Transport Minister Oscar Puente's resignation on Tuesday.

Puente said he was stepping down following Spain's second major rail crash this year. The earlier collision, near Adamuz in the southern province of Cordoba on Jan. 18, killed 46 people.

Britain's October services PMI up to 8-month high

Britain's services sector expanded at its fastest pace since February in October, as stronger demand and rising new orders boosted business activity, according to data released by S and P Global on Wednesday.

The seasonally adjusted S and P Global UK Services PMI Business Activity Index rose to 52.8 in October, from 52.1 in September, marking its highest reading since February. However, the latest figure remained below the long-run average of 54.2, the survey showed.

Service providers largely attributed the increase in business activity to improving customer demand and growing order books. Some reported stronger sales driven by investment in artificial intelligence, while others pointed to easing risk aversion among clients and more favourable economic conditions.

Total new business increased for a fourth consecutive month in October, reaching its fastest pace since January, largely on the back of stronger domestic demand. Employment also grew for the first time in just over two years, although job creation remained marginal as companies sought to contain costs and improve operational efficiency, according to S&P Global.

October data highlighted a combination of faster output growth and stronger price pressures across the UK services economy, mirroring the trends in the manufacturing sector, said Tim Moore, economics director at S and P Global Market Intelligence.

These signals underscore the near-certainty of a Bank of England (BoE) rate hike in November and collectively raise the likelihood of further BoE policy tightening into 2027, he added.