Train derails near Barcelona after wall collapse in heavy rain; driver killed

Barcelona, Spain. A commuter train derailed near Barcelona after a containment wall fell onto the track during heavy rain, killing the driver and seriously injuring four passengers, a fire brigade official said.

Crash near Gelida

Claudi Gallardo, an inspector at the Catalonia regional fire department, said in televised comments from the crash site that 37 people were injured, four of them seriously, and the driver died. He said all passengers had been removed from the train.

Emergency services authorities said 20 ambulances were dispatched to the site in Gelida on the outskirts of Barcelona, along with 38 firefighter units.

Recent rail incidents

The accident occurred two days after a high-speed train collision and derailment near Adamuz in the southern Córdoba province that killed 42 people.

The suburban train derailment occurred in an area long plagued by underfunded rail services and frequent incidents.

Separate disruption near Girona

In a separate incident on Tuesday night, traffic between Blanes and Maçanet-Massanes south of the city of Girona, also part of the Barcelona commuter rail network, was interrupted due to a train axle coming off the track, Spanish rail operator Adif said in a statement on X.

How do you think rail operators should prioritize safety measures during severe weather?