Train in Spanish crash was 'travelling at twice the speed limit'

The train that derailed in Santiago de Compostela on Wednesday evening killing 77 people and leaving more than a hundred injured was reportedly travelling at more than twice the speed limit. 

The carriages careened off the tracks at a curve approaching the station at Santiago where the limit is set at 80 km per hour (50mph).

But one of the drivers has admitted that the train took the curve at a speed of around 190km per hour, according to local media reports quoting sources close to the investigation.

Both the state-owned train operator Renfe and Adif, which is in charge of the tracks, have opened an investigation into the cause of the derailment.

An official source said no statement would be made regarding the cause until the black boxes of the train were examined, but said it was most likely an accident.

“We are moving away from the hypothesis of sabotage or attack,” he said.