A train driver has lost his life and at least 37 passengers were injured, five of them seriously, after a commuter train derailed and crashed near Barcelona on Tuesday evening, in the latest of a series of serious rail incidents to hit Spain this week.
According to local authorities, the Rodalies commuter train struck a retaining wall between Gelida and Sant Sadurní, west of Barcelona, causing the structure to collapse onto the tracks and derail the train. The accident occurred as violent storms swept across north-eastern Spain, prompting weather alerts in several coastal and inland regions.
Catalonia’s regional fire service confirmed that all passengers were evacuated from the train. Fire Inspector Claudi Gallardo said emergency crews worked swiftly to remove those on board, rescuing one passenger who had been trapped inside the carriages. A total of 35 fire crews and 11 ambulances were deployed to the scene in Gelida, around 35 kilometres west of Barcelona.
Emergency medical services reported that five people sustained serious injuries, while six others were moderately hurt and a further 26 suffered minor injuries. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals, including Moisès Broggi, Bellvitge and Vila Franca, for treatment. A final sweep of the area was later carried out to ensure no further victims remained.
The deadly derailment came just two days after a fatal collision involving two trains in southern Spain, raising fresh concerns about rail safety amid extreme weather conditions.
Earlier on the same day, a separate Rodalies train also derailed on another section of the Barcelona commuter network. Spain’s rail infrastructure operator, Adif, said the incident occurred after a rock dislodged by stormy weather struck the train’s axle. The train was travelling between Blanes and Maçanet-Massanes, north-east of Barcelona. No injuries were reported in that incident, but services on the line were suspended.
As a precaution, rail services across the entire Rodalies commuter network were halted while safety inspections are carried out. Spanish media reported that up to 400,000 commuters are expected to be affected, with widespread disruption anticipated during Wednesday morning’s rush hour.
Rail operators are expected to meet with authorities following the inspections to determine when services can safely resume, as Spain grapples with the combined impact of extreme weather and critical transport disruptions.
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