Spain's King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia visited survivors of a train crash in Santiago de Compestela.

On Wednesday evening, at least 80 people died when the eight-carriage high velocity train came off the tracks just outside the pilgrimage center of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. It was one of Europe's worst rail disasters.

The royal couple met the injured.

"The only thing that I can say is that we join all Spaniards in this moment and we are with all the victims, their families, their friends and we hope that this is cleared up," King Juan Carlos said, addressing the injured and hospital staff at the Hospital Clinico Santiago.

Police have taken the driver of the train into custody in the hospital after the train derailed and caught fire in a dramatic accident which an official source said was caused by excessive speed.

One local official described the aftermath of the crash as like a scene from hell, with bodies strewn next to the tracks.

The impact was so huge one carriage flew several meters into the air and landed on the other side of the high concrete barrier.

Some 94 people were injured, of whom 35 were in serious condition, including four children, the deputy head of the regional government said.