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Spain's train crash death toll reaches 69, with British, US, Japanese and Canadian citizens among the dead

At least 69 people were killed when two high-speed trains collided near Urda in Spain's Toledo province on 28 October. Spanish authorities say the dead include four US citizens and people from Canada, Japan, Argentina, Mexico, Tunisia and the Czech Republic, and Cambridge University scientist Dr Marta Shahbazi has been confirmed among the victims. Funerals have begun.

L 28% · C 17% · R 55% · 18 outlets

Left 0 · Centre-left 5 · Centre 3 · Centre-right 4 · Right 6

Blindspot for the left (barely covered by left-leaning outlets)

ContextSources by leanVideoDeep diveFollow the moneyMore coverage

How each side framed it

Left-leaning outlets

Victims and identification: 'Spain train crash: US, Japan and Canada citizens among dead, authorities say' (The Guardian); 'Funerals begin for victims of train crash in Spain' (Associated Press).

Centre outlets

Centre-rated outlets headline it: “University of Cambridge scientist among those who died in Spanish train crash” (BBC News); “Spanish village holds memorial mass for train crash victims” (France 24).

Right-leaning outlets

Causes and a British victim: 'Four system failures led to Spain train crash, report finds' (The Telegraph); 'Cambridge University scientist dead after horror Spain crash killing 69 people' (GB News).

Context

The wider geopolitical and historical background, in our words, each point linked to the source it comes from. Background, not a verdict on today's story. How we write it.

Spain runs Europe's largest high-speed rail network, with state operator Renfe's AVE trains sharing lines with private competitors such as Iryo since the market opened up.

Checked 2026-11-02. Links were opened and returned a page that day.

Search for more (live results, not checked by us): Wikipedia search · Explainers (Google News search) · Background and history (Google News search)

Sources by lean

Balanced: the same number of articles from the left, the centre and the right (up to 3 each). The bar above still counts every rated outlet we found. Bias and factual ratings come from Media Bias/Fact Check. How we balance · All ratings.

Left 2

Centre 2

Right 2

Showing 2 from each side of 18 rated outlets (L 5 / C 3 / R 10). Capped at 2 because that is all we found on the thinnest side. More coverage

Video

News reports from outlets with a bias rating, balanced like the articles: the same number from the left, the centre and the right. A side with no matching video is named, never padded. Every video was checked to exist on YouTube on the day; titles are the publishers' own. Links open YouTube; nothing from YouTube loads on this page. How we pick.

Left 2

Centre 2

Right 2

Showing 2 from each side that has one.

YouTube searches (live results, not checked or balanced by us): News videos · Explainers · Podcasts

Deep dive

The two opposites side by side, seeking to understand rather than judge. These are possible readings of the coverage, built from the articles linked on this page; they are not claims about anyone's motives. How we write it.

Seen from the left

“Cambridge University scientist confirmed dead after Spain train crash as tributes paid” Daily Mirror

A possible reading: the victims and their families must come first.

May be protecting: grieving families and the dignity of the dead.

Seen from the right

“4 Americans among dozens killed in train crash in Spain, officials say” CBS News

A possible reading: the system failures must be found and someone held to account.

May be protecting: accountability for rail safety failures.

What they agree on

At least 69 people were killed when two high-speed trains collided near Urda in Toledo province on 28 October. The dead include Cambridge University scientist Dr Marta Shahbazi, four US citizens and people from Canada, Japan, Argentina, Mexico, Tunisia and the Czech Republic. Both want the cause established and the victims named and honoured.

Where they truly differ

The Jerusalem Post reports that Spain's Jewish federation condemned online conspiracy theories blaming Israel; the cause reported elsewhere is a signalling failure.

The paradox

Left-leaning outlets focus on the victims and the slow identification of the dead, while right-leaning ones lead with what went wrong, and both are part of the same story.

Open questions

  • What will the final investigation say about the signalling?
  • Will safety checks change across Spain's shared high-speed lines?
  • Shared question: what will Spain change so that the failures named in the report cannot recur?

Follow the money

Not yet researched. We haven't yet looked at who gains or loses financially from this story, or who funds the main voices on each side. When we do, we check company filings, the Electoral Commission donations register, lobbying registers, annual reports, InfluenceMap and OpenSecrets, and we apply the same checks to every side. How we follow the money.

Who owns or funds the outlets covering this story (16 outlets)
OutletLeanOwnership & funding (MBFC)
Daily MirrorCentre-leftBritish Publishing Company Reach plc (formerly Trinity Mirror) owns The Daily Mirror. Revenue is generated through digital advertising, print ads, and subscription fees. source
EuronewsCentre-leftEuronews is owned by Alpac Capital, a Portugal-based investment fund that acquired an 88% stake in July 2022, with the remaining 12% held by government-supported broadcasters from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Ownership also has business ties with Hungary’s Viktor Orban. source
The GuardianCentre-leftThe Guardian and its companion publication, the Sunday newspaper The Observer, are owned by Guardian Media Group plc (GMG). Scott Trust Limited was created in 1936 to ensure the editorial independence of the publications and owns Guardian Media Group plc (GMG). source
The IndependentCentre-leftThe Independent is owned by Independent Print Limited, a company owned by the Lebedev family (Alexander Lebedev and his son Evgeny Lebedev). In 2017, Saudi Businessman Sultan Muhammad Abuljadayel bought a 30% stake in the Independent online newspaper. Advertising and subscription generate revenue for the paper..push({}); source
BBC NewsCentreThe BBC operates under a Royal Charter. Oversight is managed by the BBC Board, and regulatory authority rests with Ofcom. source
France 24CentreFrance 24 is owned by France Médias Monde, a state-owned French holding company that supervises and coordinates the activities of the major public media organizations broadcasting or publishing internationally from France. Besides government funding, they also generate revenue through advertising. source
CBS NewsCentre-rightCBS News is owned by Paramount Global, which was formerly controlled by National Amusements, Inc., the holding company of the Redstone family. In 2025, Paramount entered into a merger agreement with Skydance Media, effectively ending the Redstones’ majority control. CBS News generates revenue primarily through advertising and affiliate broadcasting fees..push({}); source
ITV NewsCentre-rightNo ownership data found
Jerusalem PostCentre-rightIn 1989, the paper was purchased by Hollinger Inc. for $17-million, which Canadian-born British Conservative Conrad Black owned. Conrad Black later was charged with “swindling his company, Hollinger International, of $60 million.” He was serving a prison sentence; however, in 2019, President Donald Trump pardoned him. source
The TimesCentre-rightThe Times and Sunday Times is owned by News UK (News Corp UK & Ireland Limited), which American News Corp owns. The owner and Executive Chairman of News Corp are Rupert Murdoch. Revenue is derived from advertising and subscription fees. source
BreitbartRightAfter the death of Andrew Breitbart in 2012, Larry Solov became CEO and president of Breitbart News. In 2017, according to Politico, Larry Solov revealed the owner of Breitbart as “himself, founder Andrew Breitbart’s widow, Susie Breitbart, and the Republican mega-donor family, the Mercers.” Further, Solov also stated that he wants “to disclose as little as possible about financial and ownership structure.” source
Daily ExpressRightThe Daily Express is owned by Reach plc (formerly known as Trinity Mirror), a British newspaper, magazine, and digital publisher. Subscriptions, newsstand sales, and advertising generate revenue. source
Daily MailRightThe Daily Mail is published by Associated Newspapers Limited, part of Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT). DMGT is controlled by the Rothermere family and is 100% owned by Rothermere Continuation Limited. Jonathan Harmsworth, 4th Viscount Rothermere, serves as Chairman..push({}); DMGT became privately owned after delisting from the London Stock Exchange in 2022. source
GB NewsRightGB News lacks transparency as they do not disclose ownership. A search reveals that London-based ALL Perspectives Ltd owns GB News. According to Reuters, the television channel “secured millions of dollars from investors such as Discovery Inc, Legatum and hedge fund manager Paul Marshall. source
The SunRightThe Sun is published by the News Group Newspapers division of News UK, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. The paper generates revenue through advertising, newsstand sales, and subscriptions. source
The TelegraphRightTelegraph Media Group (TMG) owns The Telegraph, which is owned by Press Acquisitions Ltd., which in turn is owned by Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay. In 2004, Twin Brothers Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay acquired the Daily Telegraph and the Sunday Telegraph from the Canadian media company Hollinger Inc. for £665 million. For a complete list of Board members, see here. source