Second Spain Train Crash Triggers Train Drivers’ Strike Threat

Spain is facing a growing rail safety crisis after a second serious train accident in just three days left one person dead and 37 injured near Barcelona, prompting the country’s train drivers to threaten strike action over what they describe as years of neglected maintenance and safety warnings.

Commuter Train Derails Near Barcelona

The latest incident occurred on the evening of 20 January 2026 on the Rodalies R4 commuter line between Gelida and Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, around 35 kilometres west of Barcelona. A Barcelona-bound train derailed after colliding with a retaining wall that had collapsed onto the tracks during severe storms, causing the front of the train to leave the rails and partially overturn.

Regional authorities confirmed that one person, a young trainee driver travelling in the cab, died in the crash. A total of 37 passengers were injured; five were reported to be in serious condition, six suffered moderate injuries and the remainder sustained minor injuries. Emergency services deployed dozens of ambulances, more than 30 fire crews and multiple police units to evacuate passengers, treat the wounded and secure the damaged infrastructure.

Second Major Rail Accident in Three Days

The Gelida derailment came just days after Spain’s worst rail disaster in more than a decade, when two high-speed trains collided near Adamuz in the southern province of Córdoba. That crash, on 18 January, killed more than 40 people and injured over 150 after an Iryo train derailed and was struck by an oncoming Renfe service.

The proximity of the two accidents in both time and public attention has intensified scrutiny of Spain’s rail safety record. While the Adamuz disaster involved the high-speed network and the Gelida crash affected a regional commuter line, both incidents have raised questions about infrastructure resilience, inspection regimes and the country’s preparedness for extreme weather events.

Train Drivers’ Union Threatens Strike

In the wake of the twin accidents, Spain’s main train drivers’ union has announced plans for industrial action, warning that staff will not accept working in conditions they consider unsafe. Union representatives say they have repeatedly alerted infrastructure managers and the government to track defects, subsidence risks and other infrastructure problems but claim many of their concerns have been ignored or addressed only superficially.

The union argues that both the Adamuz and Gelida crashes highlight systemic issues rather than isolated technical failures. They point to long-running complaints about insufficient investment in maintenance, aging infrastructure on some conventional lines and delays in upgrading drainage, retaining structures and monitoring systems to cope with heavier traffic and increasingly frequent severe storms.

Calls for Accountability and Safety Overhaul

Union leaders are demanding a comprehensive safety audit of both the high-speed and conventional rail networks, with priority measures implemented before services return to full normality. They are also calling for clear accountability if investigations confirm that infrastructure problems, known defects or insufficient maintenance contributed to either accident.

Drivers’ representatives have indicated they are prepared to file criminal complaints if official inquiries show that warnings were ignored or that cost-cutting decisions compromised safety. They insist that any return to regular operations must be accompanied by binding guarantees on maintenance standards, inspection frequency and the treatment of internal safety reports.

Passenger Disruption Across Catalonia and Beyond

The Gelida crash triggered immediate suspension of services on parts of the Rodalies network while engineers inspected tracks, signalling equipment and nearby structures. This caused significant disruption for commuters in Catalonia, with replacement buses and alternative routes quickly becoming congested.

At the same time, the Adamuz disaster continues to affect long-distance travel between Madrid and Andalusia, where high-speed services have been curtailed or rerouted while investigations and repairs continue. Any strike action by train drivers would add a further layer of disruption, potentially affecting regional, long-distance and high-speed services across Spain.

Government and Operator Response

Spain’s transport authorities and rail infrastructure managers have pledged full cooperation with accident investigations and have announced temporary measures such as speed restrictions on certain stretches of track while inspections are carried out. Officials have expressed condolences to the families of the victims and praised the rapid response of emergency services.

However, pressure is mounting on the government to go beyond immediate technical responses and launch a broader review of rail safety policy, funding and oversight. With public confidence shaken by two deadly accidents in quick succession and the prospect of strike action looming, Spain’s rail system faces intense scrutiny in the days and weeks ahead.