Spain was struck by its second deadly train accident in three days on Tuesday when a commuter train crash near Barcelona killed the driver and injured 37 passengers, deepening the nation’s grief as it observes three days of official mourning for 42 victims of Sunday’s catastrophic high-speed collision.
The latest tragedy occurred in Gelida, approximately 40 kilometers west of Barcelona in Catalonia, when a passenger train struck debris from a collapsed retaining wall that had fallen onto railway tracks during heavy rainfall. Claudi Gallardo, inspector for the Catalonia fire service, confirmed the train driver died at the scene while four passengers sustained serious injuries requiring hospitalization.
Spain’s railway operator ADIF attributed the wall collapse to intense storms that battered the region this week, causing infrastructure failures along the rail corridor. The incident occurred as Spain was already observing national mourning declared by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for victims of Sunday’s disaster near Adamuz in Córdoba province, southern Spain.
Sunday’s collision remains Spain’s deadliest rail accident since 2013, unfolding when a high-speed Iryo train carrying 317 passengers derailed and crashed into an oncoming Renfe train traveling in the opposite direction on an adjacent track. The death toll stands at 42, with over 290 injured, and rescue workers continue searching through twisted wreckage for possible additional victims.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente has described both incidents as “truly strange,” noting that Sunday’s crash occurred on a straight, recently renovated track section where neither train exceeded posted speed limits. Investigators discovered a broken rail joint that may have created a widening gap, though Puente emphasized it remains unclear whether this was a cause or consequence of the derailment, warning investigations could take weeks.
The back-to-back tragedies have intensified pressure on Spanish authorities to reassure the public about rail safety, despite the country leading Europe in high-speed rail mileage and maintaining what is considered one of the world’s most advanced railway networks. High-speed services between Madrid and Andalusia remain suspended through January 23, causing massive disruptions for tens of thousands of travelers.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited the Adamuz crash site on Tuesday to meet with rescue workers and grieving families. Among Sunday’s victims was an entire family from Huelva, though miraculously their six-year-old daughter survived with only minor injuries, becoming known as the crash’s “miracle survivor” after being found walking barefoot on the tracks.
Emergency responders have worked around the clock using heavy machinery to lift damaged carriages, with Andalusian regional president Juanma Moreno describing the scene as “a twisted mass of metal.” Approximately 39 families were still desperately awaiting news of missing loved ones as of Tuesday, with authorities collecting DNA samples for victim identification.
