2026 Gelida train derailment
| 2026 Catalonia train derailment | |
|---|---|
 The type of train involved (Class 447) | |
| Details | |
| Date | 20 January 2026 9:00 p.m. CET[1] |
| Location | Gelida, Catalonia |
| Country | Spain |
| Line | R4 |
| Owner | Rodalies de Catalunya |
| Incident type | Derailment, wall collapse caused by landslide |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 1 |
| Passengers | 37 |
| Deaths | 1 |
| Injured | 37+ |
On 20 January 2026, a Rodalies de Catalunya commuter train collided with a retaining wall after it was struck by a landslide, causing the train to derail between Gelida and Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Catalonia. A trainee driver who travelled in the driver's cab was killed and at least 37 passengers were injured. Preliminary investigations state that the cause of the retaining wall collapse was heavy rainfall during Storm Harry.[2] The derailment occurred just two days after two trains collided in Adamuz in southern Spain, killing 46 people.[3]
Incident
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The train was operating an R4 service between the stations of Sant Sadurní d'Anoia and Gelida when it collided with a retaining wall after a landslide caused it to collapse onto the tracks. The wall supported an overpass under which the tracks cross the AP-7 highway.[4] Approximately 37 people were on board at the time of the derailment.[5]
Preliminary investigations after the analysis of the train event recorder revealed that the train would have only started braking five seconds before impact with the collapsed wall. The train was travelling at around 60 kph. The wall would have collapsed due to the heavy rainfalls pouring over the area during the previous hours.[4]
In a separate incident on the same night, traffic between Blanes and Maçanet-Massanes was interrupted after a train derailed on line R1 near Tordera.[6][7]
Aftermath
Among the injured, five were critical, six were less serious and 26 were minor. Emergency services mobilised a total of 38 fire crews and 11 ambulances to attend to the victims.[8][9][10] Search and rescue operations are underway for trapped victims. The most seriously injured were transferred to Bellvitge Hospital and Moises Broggi Hospital and those with minor injuries were treated at the field hospital at the scene.[11]
Spain's railway operator, Adif, remarked that the containment wall's collapse was probably due in part to heavy rainfall that swept across the region this week as a result of Storm Harry,[2] compromising the structural integrity of the wall.[5] Following the derailment, train service was suspended on the entire Rodalies network in order to conduct security inspections. This had a number of consequences, including the suspension of toll fees on the C-32 highway and the cancellation of exams at the University of Barcelona.[12][13] Some service was restored on 24 January, but was resuspended later that day as disruptions persisted and maintenance continued.[14]
See also
References
- ^ Mackintosh, Thomas; Hedgecoe, Guy; Mann, Toby (21 January 2026) [first published 20 January 2026]. "Spain train crash: Driver killed in derailment near Barcelona". BBC News. Archived from the original on 22 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ a b "Barcelona train crashes, killing one, two days after deadly train collision in Spain". ITV News. 20 January 2026. Archived from the original on 22 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ Jones, Sam (22 January 2026). "Spanish train drivers call three-day strike after deadly railway crashes". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ a b "El tren de Gelida solo tuvo 5 segundos para frenar antes de chocar contra el muro caído". elDiario.es (in European Spanish). EFE. 23 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ a b Badshah, Nadeem (20 January 2026). "Commuter train near Barcelona hits collapsed wall killing driver and injuring nearly 40". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse/Associated Press. Archived from the original on 22 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "Commuter train derails near Barcelona, killing driver and injuring 20". The Irish Times. 20 January 2026. Archived from the original on 21 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "Suspenen tota la circulació de Rodalies a Catalunya després de dos descarrilaments". Diari de Girona (in Catalan). Agència Catalana de Notícies. Archived from the original on 23 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ Callery, James (22 January 2026) [first published 20 January 2026]. "Barcelona train crash latest: Train driver dead, dozens injured after train derailment near city, police say". Sky News. Archived from the original on 23 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "One dead, four injured in train accident near Barcelona". RTÉ.ie. Agence France-Presse/Reuters. 21 January 2026 [first published 20 January 2026]. Archived from the original on 22 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ Caliz, Ashlee (21 January 2026) [first published 20 January 2026]. "Barcelona train driver dies in second train derailment in Spain in 48 hours". Majorca Daily Bulletin. Grupo Serra. Archived from the original on 22 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ Donate Mazcuñán, Félix; Ayuso, Ana (21 January 2026) [first published 20 January 2026]. "Un muerto y 37 heridos en un accidente de tren en Cataluña" [One dead and 37 injured in a train accident in Catalonia] (in European Spanish). RTVE. Archived from the original on 21 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "Encara no se sap quan es podrà reprendre el servei" (in Catalan). 3CatInfo. 21 January 2026. 15.55. Archived from the original on 21 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "Com afecta l'aturada de Rodalies al funcionament de les universitats?" (in Catalan). 3CatInfo. 21 January 2026. 18.37. Archived from the original on 21 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "Rodalies commuter train service completely suspended again, safety checks underway". Catalan News. 24 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.