Spanish Train May Have Been Going Twice Speed Limit When It Crashed

80 killed

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, Spain — An Associated Press analysis of video images shows that a Spanish train was traveling well above the speed limit when it derailed, killing 80 people.

Officials say the speed limit on that section of track is 80 kph (50 mph).

An estimate of the train's speed at the moment of impact using the frame rate of the video and the estimated distance between two pylons gives a range of 144-192 kph (89-119 mph). Another estimate calculated on the basis of the typical distance between railroad ties gives a range of 156-182 kph (96-112 mph).