A series of human errors by rail traffic controllers was the probable cause of the high-speed collision south of Toledo that killed at least 69 people, Spain’s transport minister has said.

Traffic controllers in Madrid authorised a moving passenger train to accelerate to roughly 100mph directly toward a stationary train occupying the same track sector, Oscar Puente told a news conference.

A judicial inquiry is now underway to determine why operators failed to halt the service during a 17-minute period when control room displays showed one train stopped while the other bore down upon it.

“They had a clear view of what was happening,” Mr Puente said on Friday , after insisting he would not point the blame at individual workers.

The high-speed collision has killed at least 69 people and injured scores more (AFP/Getty)

The minister, who has refused to resign in the wake of the second major rail disaster in Spain this year, said controllers were operating under an emergency manual regime where basic…