Spain is once again experiencing a serious incident in rail transport. Just a few days after the fatal train disaster in Adamuz, another dramatic accident has occurred in Gelida.
A train driver has lost his life, dozens of people have been injured – and public outrage is clearly growing.
Spain Press Editorial Team
An accident with far-reaching consequences
The accident occurred on the Rodalies R4 line when a train collided with a retaining wall that had collapsed onto the tracks. The structure had come loose as a result of heavy rainfall. The train derailed.
The toll is shocking: one train driver killed, 37 people injured, five of them seriously.
The fact that a railway employee lost his life while on duty has further intensified the debate. Trade unions and passenger associations are speaking of a risk that is no longer acceptable.
🇪🇸 Gélida, Spain | 🔴 This is how passengers experienced the Gélida accident from inside the train: pic.twitter.com/sWsY2lKHKB
— 𝐄𝐥 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 (@ElImperialEsp) January 20, 2026
Complete standstill for hundreds of thousands
As an immediate consequence, all Rodalies rail services in Catalonia were suspended.
Around 400,000 commuters are affected. Roads are congested, and replacement transport services are reaching their limits.
The infrastructure operator is currently carrying out so-called “marchas blancas” – inspection runs without passengers to check the safety of the lines. Operations are not due to resume until all sections are deemed safe.
Second incident in the same night
In addition, Adif recorded another derailment that same night between Maçanet-Massanes and Tordera on the R1 line. There, a train collided with rocks on the tracks and lost an axle. No one was injured – yet the impression is growing that this is not an isolated incident.
Political reactions – and growing discontent
Catalonia’s regional president, Salvador Illa, stated that he is “monitoring the situation very closely.” Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, expressed his sympathy to the victims.
Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo summed up the mood of many citizens: “This is too much.”
Andalusia’s regional president, Juanma Moreno, also described it as a “black week” for Spanish rail transport.
A structural problem?
Among the public, the impression is growing that poor maintenance, weather-vulnerable infrastructure, and delayed responses are creating a dangerous combination.
Two serious train accidents within just a few days have shaken the confidence of many passengers.
The question now inevitably arises:
How safe is rail transport in Spain really – and for how long has it been ignored?
