The Gelida train derailment has resulted in a fatal railway accident. Consequently, a train driver has died and 37 passengers are injured. This incident occurred on the R4 Rodalies line on Tuesday night. Heavy rains in Catalonia caused a retaining wall to collapse onto the tracks during severe storms.
Emergency services worked through the night to evacuate passengers and stabilise the wreckage. According to official government figures, five of the injured remain in a serious condition. Meanwhile, six suffered less serious injuries and 26 sustained minor cuts and bruises. Therefore, the accident has prompted an immediate suspension of rail services across the network for safety inspections. This event adds to the concerning history of train accidents in Spain over the past 25 years.
Your browser does not support the video tag.Home » Gelida Train Derailment: Driver Dies and 37 Injured in Barcelona Accident
Gelida train derailment: Wall collapse caused by heavy rainfall
The Gelida train derailment took place at approximately 21:00 on Tuesday. The train was travelling from Sant Vicenç de Calders towards Manresa. Firefighters reported that a retaining wall gave way due to the persistent downpour. It fell directly onto the tracks and impacted the first carriage.
Claudi Gallardo, head of intervention for the Generalitat Firefighters, stated the wall collapsed onto the lead carriage. This caused significant deformation. Most passengers were travelling in this section during the impact. Initial reports suggested the train collided with debris already on the track. However, technical assessments confirmed the structure failed as the convoy passed.
The response operation involved 35 fire units, 20 ambulances from the Medical Emergency System (SEM), and police officers. Firefighters had to extricate one person trapped inside the twisted metal of the carriage. As detailed in the official report from Civil Protection, the injured were transported to Moisès Broggi, Bellvitge, and Vilafranca hospitals for treatment.
Rodalies network suspended after Gelida train derailment
Infrastructure manager Adif has suspended circulation across the Rodalies network. Officials stated the suspension is necessary to assess the storm’s impact on other infrastructure parts. This ensures passenger safety following the Gelida train derailment.
Silvia Paneque, spokesperson for the Generalitat, visited the scene alongside Interior Minister Núria Parlon. She confirmed that service would not resume until engineers verified the safety of the lines. Therefore, a deeper technical analysis of the accident site is currently underway.
The government has announced a reinforcement of interurban transport to cope with the disruption. However, authorities have asked the public to avoid unnecessary travel while the storm continues. The broader issue of transport safety was highlighted by a recent study on Catalonia’s dangerous roads and accident costs.
Second incident on R1 line after Gelida train derailment
The tragedy in Gelida was not the only railway incident recorded on Tuesday. A second train derailed on the R1 line between Maçanet Massanes and Tordera. In this separate event, the train collided with a rock that had fallen onto the track. This caused an axle to derail.
Adif sources confirmed that ten passengers were on board the R1 train at the time. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in this second accident.
Political reaction to the Gelida train derailment
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his solidarity with the victims’ families. He stated he was following the emergency work closely. Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo also sent condolences, noting the tragic death of the driver. Catalan President Salvador Illa, currently recovering in hospital, remained in contact with crisis managers throughout the night.
A coordination meeting involving Adif, Renfe, and technical experts is scheduled for Wednesday morning. This meeting will determine the timeline for restoring services.
Get all of the news delivered to your phone via our WhatsApp Broadcast Channel .
