A preliminary report from Spain's rail investigation commission confirms a track fracture caused last Sunday's high-speed train disaster, which killed 45 people. The fracture occurred in a straight section of track before the Iryo train passed over it. Investigators found notches on the train's wheels, evidence the rail was already damaged.

The 40cm gap in the track is now the investigation's focus. Three earlier trains that passed over the same section showed similar wheel grooves, suggesting the track had been compromised for some time. The private Iryo train derailed, with its rear carriages crossing onto an oncoming state-owned Renfe train.

Transport Minister Óscar Puente stated the fracture likely happened in the minutes or hours before the crash, making it nearly impossible to detect through routine inspections. The commission calls its findings a "working hypothesis" requiring further analysis. This is Spain's worst rail accident in over a decade.