A commuter train derailed near Barcelona on Tuesday night, killing a trainee driver and injuring 41 others, just days after a deadly high-speed collision in southern Spain claimed at least 43 lives. The crash occurred around 9pm when a retaining wall collapsed onto the track near Gelida in Catalonia, possibly due to heavy rainfall. The deceased was identified as Fernando Huerta, 27, from Seville.
Five of the injured are in critical condition. As a precaution, the regional rail network was shut down pending inspections, stranding hundreds of thousands and causing road chaos. Earlier on Tuesday, a separate incident on the Maresme coast saw a train strike a rock on the track, resulting in minor injuries.
Spain's largest train drivers' union, Semaf, called for an indefinite strike, demanding 'criminal liability from those responsible for ensuring safety in the railway infrastructure'. The union cited 'constant deterioration of the rail network' and called for 'urgent new measures'.
The incidents have focused attention on both the high-speed AVE network and underfunded regional services. Transport Minister Óscar Puente stated the two accidents were 'completely unrelated', but opposition parties criticised the government. The head of the Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, demanded 'immediate clarification' of the railways' state, while Vox's Pepa Millán claimed Spaniards were 'afraid to get on a train'.
Despite recent events, EU statistics indicate Spain's rail network is one of Europe's safest, with only one passenger death in 2024 compared to 20,000 on roads.
