A British university professor was named as one of the victims of Spain’s high-speed rail disaster.

Spain is mourning the death of at least 69 people in the Toledo rail tragedy, which struck on Wednesday morning on the Madrid-Seville route.

The death toll is feared to rise as scores of people are still fighting for their lives in Madrid hospitals.

One British victim of the tragedy has been named as Dr Marta Shahbazi, a 41-year-old professor at Cambridge University.

She is believed to have been travelling in the front carriage of the Renfe train when it crashed into the rear of the Iryo service between the towns of Los Yébenes and Urda.

A molecular medicine research institute in Spain confirmed Marta’s death on social media yesterday evening.

It said: ‘The CiMUS community would like to express its support and deepest sympathies to our dear PI María José Alonso, following the death of her niece, Marta Shahbazi, in the railway accident that occurred on 28 October.

‘Marta was a brilliant young researcher, Group Leader at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Affiliate Associate Professor at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge.

‘At this difficult time, we extend our heartfelt condolences to María José and her family, as well as to Marta Shahbazi’s colleagues and collaborators.

‘Our thoughts are with them all, and we wish them strength and comfort as they come to terms with this profound loss.’

Marta, a mum-of-two, was reportedly travelling on the train to receive an award for her work when the tragedy struck.

Marta’s LinkedIn profile said she was passionate about ‘human development, reproduction and women’s health.’

One of her latest scientific papers was on embryo development and stem cells during early pregnancy.

Authorities have blamed the crash on a computer failure and human error.

Spain’s transport minister Oscar Puente said that a computer glitch on Wednesday morning stopped six trains on the tracks, including the doomed Renfe and Iryo services.

The control centre then decided to resume operations, allowing trains to run again without speed restrictions.

Puente said the decision was made ‘under inexplicable circumstances,’ resulting in Spain’s deadliest rail disaster since 2013.

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