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A second tragedy has struck, this time in Catalonia, just two days after the Adamuz train disaster in Córdoba, which has claimed the lives of 41 people. On the evening of Tuesday January 20, a train on the R4 Rodalies line derailed in the Barcelona town of Gelida after a retaining wall collapsed onto the tracks.

 

According to firefighters, the collapse was caused by the heavy rains that have been battering northern Spain over the last few days.

 

The train driver was killed in the accident and 37 passengers were injured, five of whom are understood to be in a serious condition. According to Civil Protection, who responded to the scene, they have all been taken to the Moisès Broggi, Bellvitge, and Vilafranca hospitals.

 

The head of the Catalan Fire Service's intervention unit, Claudi Gallardo, explained that the retaining wall gave way and collapsed at around 9pm onto the first carriage of the Rodalies commuter train, which was crushed by the weight of the debris. Most of the passengers were in that carriage.

 

Thirty-five fire crews from the Generalitat Fire Department and twenty ambulances from the Medical Emergency System (SEM), as well as officers from the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan Police), were dispatched to the scene of the accident. After a safety perimeter was established, the retaining wall was shored up to prevent any further collapse while passengers were evacuated.

 

The train had departed from Sant Vicenç de Calders bound for Manresa, and following the accident, Adif suspended service across the entire Rodalies commuter rail network "due to the effects the storm is having on the infrastructure."

 

"Service will not resume until we are certain that the lines have been inspected. Inspections will be carried out in the coming hours, and a more thorough analysis will have to be done at the accident site," stated the spokesperson for the Catalan government, Silvia Paneque, who travelled to the scene along with the Minister of the Interior, Núria Parlon.

 

Paneque announced that a meeting of the Catalan Operational Coordination Centre (CECAT) is scheduled for 9.30am this Wednesday. Adif, Renfe and technical experts specialszing in these types of incidents will participate to conduct an analysis of the situation. Following this meeting, information will be provided on how service will be restored. The Catalan government has assured the public that intercity transport will be reinforced and urges residents to avoid unnecessary travel.

 

Incredibly, the Gelida incident wasn't the only train accident in Catalonia on Tuesday. Another train derailed after an axle came loose when it collided with a rock that had fallen onto the tracks, also due to the storm. This accident occurred on the R1 Rodalies line, between Maçanet Massanes and Tordera.

According to Adif sources, there were ten passengers on board and no injuries were reported.

 

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