Derailment: A tragic commuter rail accident near Barcelona has once again brought railway safety in Spain under intense scrutiny. A train driver lost his life and at least 37 passengers were injured after a commuter train derailed and crashed in Catalonia. The incident occurred only two days after another devastating rail collision in southern Spain, making this one of the most alarming weeks for the country’s transport network in recent years.
The accident took place on a commuter train operating on the Rodalies network between the towns of Gelida and Sant Sadurní, approximately 35 kilometers west of Barcelona. According to local authorities, the train struck a retaining wall that had collapsed onto the tracks. The impact caused severe damage, particularly to the driver’s cabin and the first carriage, where most of the injured passengers were seated.
Emergency officials confirmed that all passengers were successfully evacuated from the train following the crash. Rescue teams worked under challenging conditions, as heavy storms were affecting large parts of north-eastern Spain at the time of the incident.
Severe weather appears to have played a significant role in the derailment. Intense storms had been battering the region throughout the day, placing coastal and inland areas under high alert. Rail authorities believe that the retaining wall gave way due to the extreme weather and collapsed just as the train was passing shortly after 21:00 local time.
The wall reportedly struck the front of the train first, leading to a chain reaction that resulted in derailment and extensive structural damage. Investigators are now examining whether infrastructure maintenance and weather preparedness were sufficient to prevent such an accident.
While the identity of the deceased train driver was not immediately released, officials revealed that three trainee drivers were present in the cabin at the time of the crash. Two of them were among those seriously injured. Five passengers in total sustained critical injuries, while others suffered fractures and trauma.
Firefighters and emergency medical teams responded swiftly to the scene. One survivor had to be freed after being trapped for nearly an hour. Injured passengers were transported to nearby hospitals, including Moisès Broggi, Bellvitge, and Vila Franca, for urgent medical treatment.
In response to the accident, all services across Catalonia’s Rodalies commuter rail network were completely suspended. Rail officials stated that operations would not resume until comprehensive safety inspections were completed and all lines were declared safe for travel.
The suspension is expected to have a major impact on daily life, with an estimated 400,000 commuters affected. Authorities are working to provide alternative transport options, but significant disruption is anticipated across the region.
The latest crash has intensified anger among railway workers. Spain’s train drivers’ union announced a strike, citing what it described as a continuous deterioration of railway safety standards. The union expressed deep frustration following two deadly rail accidents within a short span of time.
Just days earlier, a catastrophic collision in Andalusia resulted in at least 42 deaths when two high-speed trains collided near Córdoba. That incident was one of the worst rail disasters Spain has seen in over a decade and has already prompted nationwide concern.
Adding to the growing alarm, another train on the Barcelona commuter network derailed on the same day as the Gelida crash. In that case, rail officials reported that a rock dislodged by storm conditions struck the train’s axle. The train, carrying around 10 passengers, was traveling between Blanes and Maçanet-Massanes. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported in that incident.
With multiple accidents occurring amid extreme weather, public pressure is mounting on authorities to reassess infrastructure resilience, maintenance standards, and emergency preparedness. Investigations into both recent crashes are ongoing, and their findings are expected to shape future rail safety policies in Spain.
