The horrific series of tragedies on European railways continues. On the evening of 20 January, in Catalonia, just 40 km from Barcelona, a Rodalies R4 commuter train crashed at full speed into a pile of debris from a collapsed retaining wall. The carriages derailed, several of them overturned and were mangled.
According to the latest information from Catalan rescue and health services, one person has died and 37 have been injured, five of whom are in extremely serious condition, four in critical condition, and the rest with moderate to minor injuries.
This is the fourth major accident on European railways in just seven days — and the second fatal accident in Spain in 48 hours.
Chronology of incidents in January 2026:
18 January — the worst disaster of the decade in Spain: two high-speed trains (Iryo Malaga → Madrid and Renfe/Alvia Madrid → Huelva) collided at speed near Cordoba. One train derailed and flew onto the opposite track. At least 40–42 people were killed and more than 150 injured, many seriously. The carriages crashed off the embankment and bodies were recovered throughout the night. A national day of mourning was declared.
19–20 January — several less serious incidents: a freight train derailed in Germany, another collided with an obstacle in Poland.
20 January, evening — tragedy near Barcelona: a wall, washed away by heavy rains, collapsed directly under a train.
The European Railway Agency (ERA) has announced an immediate comprehensive inspection of all high-speed lines in Spain, France and Italy. In Spain, strict speed limits have been imposed on key routes (including Madrid-Barcelona) and hundreds of trains have been cancelled.
Will this be the last tragedy in this terrible series? There is no answer yet.