Deadly Rail Accidents Rock Spain for Second Time This Week

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Barcelona: A commuter train derailment near Barcelona has claimed the life of the train driver and injured dozens of passengers, marking the second deadly rail accident in Spain within a span of days, authorities confirmed.

 The latest accident occurred on January 20, 2026, when a Rodalies de Catalunya commuter train struck a collapsed retaining wall between Gelida and Sant Sadurní d’Anoia in Catalonia, causing the train to derail. Emergency services reported that at least 37 people were hurt, with several in serious condition, and the driver was killed in the crash.

 Regional officials said the collapse of the wall onto the railway was likely triggered by heavy rainfall linked to recent storms, which may have weakened structures alongside the track.

 The derailment has intensified public concern over rail safety just two days after a catastrophic collision between two high-speed trains near Adamuz in southern Spain’s Córdoba province, where more than 40 people lost their lives and hundreds were injured. That earlier crash, involving a train travelling from Málaga to Madrid and another bound for Huelva, has been described by officials as unusually devastating given the straight, recently upgraded stretch of track where it occurred.

 Spanish leaders have declared three days of national mourning as investigations into both accidents continue, and emergency crews work to support victims and determine the causes.

 Rail workers’ unions have called attention to the spate of accidents, citing concerns over infrastructure wear and maintenance standards, and demanding improvements to prevent further tragedies on the country’s extensive rail network.