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Driver Killed as Barcelona-Area Commuter Train Derails After Retaining-Wall Collapse

Authorities cite heavy‑rain damage to a retaining wall, prompting a suspension of Catalonia commuter rail for inspections.

Overview

  • Regional officials said a trainee driver died and 37 people were injured in the Gelida derailment, with five in serious condition and six less serious; most injuries were in the first carriage and all passengers were evacuated.
  • Spain’s rail infrastructure manager ADIF said the wall likely failed due to recent heavy rainfall, and a separate Barcelona-area train also derailed after a storm‑dislodged rock struck an axle, causing no injuries.
  • Commuter services across Catalonia were halted for safety checks, creating major disruptions as emergency crews secured the site and stabilized the collapsed structure.
  • The Barcelona crash follows Sunday’s high-speed collision near Adamuz in Andalusia that killed at least 42 people, with investigators focusing on possible track defects and officials ruling out sabotage and largely discounting human error.
  • Network safeguards were tightened, including a temporary 160 kph speed limit on parts of the Madrid–Barcelona high-speed line, as the train drivers’ union Semaf called a strike and the country observed three days of mourning.