TL:DR – Train Derails Near Barcelona Days After Fatal High-Speed Incident | World News
- A train driver was killed and 37 injured after a commuter train derailed near Barcelona, crashing into a fallen retaining wall.
- Heavy rain caused the wall’s collapse, with most injuries occurring in the first carriage.
- Eleven ambulances responded; five injured are in serious condition.
- The incident follows a recent two-train collision in Andalusia, raising concerns about Spanish rail safety.
- The Spanish Union of Railway Drivers demands inspections and temporary suspension of services in Catalonia.
Train derails near Barcelona just days after high-speed crash left at least 40 dead | News World
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Tragic Train Derailment in Spain
A train driver has been killed and at least 37 people injured after a commuter train derailed in Spain just days after a deadly two-train collision on Sunday.
The train crashed into a retaining wall that had fallen onto the rails near Barcelona yesterday evening. All passengers were removed from the train, and 37 were treated for injuries, with five in serious condition. Most of the injured were in the first carriage, which bore the brunt of the impact against the wall, reports indicate.
Details of the Incident
The wall is believed to have collapsed onto the tracks due to erosion caused by heavy rain after recent storms in north-eastern Spain. Eleven ambulances were dispatched to the crash site between Sant Sadurní d’Anoia and Gelida stations—approximately 21.7 miles west of Barcelona—after the derailment was reported at 9:02 PM local time.
One passenger was trapped in the wreckage but was rescued, according to the local fire service. This incident followed another derailment on the Barcelona commuter network that occurred on Tuesday, where a train running between Blanes and Maçanet-Massanes had its axle struck by a rock dislodged by the storm. Fortunately, there were no injuries in that case, but services were suspended, and train traffic across Catalonia has since been halted.
Safety Concerns Raised
The Spanish Union of Railway Drivers has called for an inspection of the entire railway infrastructure to assess the impact of recent storms and has recommended suspending Catalan commuter services until further notice.
Recent Train Collisions Highlight Rail Safety Issues
This derailment follows a tragic incident on Sunday, where at least 42 people lost their lives in Spain after two high-speed trains collided. A train bound for Madrid crossed into an adjacent track, resulting in an “incredibly violent impact” with another train heading to Huelva in the Andalusia region. The impact caused the Huelva-bound train to derail while traveling at 124 mph (200 km/h), plunging down a railway embankment in Adamuz, Cordoba. Both trains were carrying around 400 passengers and staff, with many trapped in the wreckage.