Storms Collapse Retaining Wall, Derail Commuter Train Near Barcelona, Killing Driver and Injuring 37

On the evening of Tuesday, January 20, 2026, a Rodalies commuter train derailed between Gelida and Sant Sadurní, about 35–40 km west of Barcelona.

“Official says 37 people are injured, as Spain observes three days of mourning for the 42 killed in an earlier train collision”

Al Jazeera

The derailment occurred after a retaining/containment wall collapsed onto the tracks amid severe storms and heavy rainfall.

Al Jazeera

The driver was killed and at least 37 passengers were injured, several seriously.

Authorities and rail operator ADIF said prolonged or heavy rain was the likely cause of the wall failure.

Emergency teams evacuated all passengers from the wreckage.

The crash damaged the driver’s cab and the front carriage, and passengers were taken to nearby hospitals including Moisès Broggi, Bellvitge and Vilafranca.

Regional authorities mobilised fire crews, ambulance teams and specialised rescuers to free trapped passengers, treat the wounded and inspect the site.

Reports vary on scale, listing between 11 and 35 ambulances or dozens of firefighters on scene.

BBC

For example, Dimsum Daily reports 11 ambulances and dozens of firefighters, Sky News and the BBC cite 20 ambulances and 38 firefighter units, MyJoyOnline mentions 35 crews and 11 ambulances, and voz.us reports up to 70 personnel including around 40 firefighters and 20 ambulances.

Several sources say one passenger was trapped and later rescued, and that all remaining passengers were evacuated.

The derailment is consistently placed on the R4 commuter line between Gelida and Sant Sadurní d’Anoia.

“Emergency crews respond after a commuter train derailed when a retaining wall collapsed onto the tracks in Gelida, near Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Jan”

birminghammail.co.uk

Timing varies between reports, with Metro.co.uk giving a local time of 21:02.

Distance from Barcelona is reported inconsistently—several outlets say about 35 km, National Herald says about 40 km, and Metro gives about 22 miles.

Multiple accounts emphasise severe damage to the front of the train and the first carriage.

Metro.co.uk, BBC and LIGA.net report most casualties were in the first carriage after a large piece of wall fell, while voz.us says the front of the train was completely destroyed.

The Barcelona-area derailment came amid a broader and more acute national rail crisis, occurring two days after a much deadlier high-speed collision near Adamuz in Córdoba province that killed at least 42 people.

That Andalusia crash has prompted national mourning, urgent investigations, and heightened scrutiny of rail safety, infrastructure resilience, and the possible role of extreme weather.

CNN

Some outlets report early findings of a damaged section of rail, but investigators have not determined whether that was a cause or a consequence.

Unions and local officials have called for inspections and audits.

Services on affected commuter lines were suspended, and there have been calls for strikes or additional safety checks.

Investigations were opened and officials described the heavy storms as the likeliest immediate trigger.

“Emergency services say a commuter train derailed near Gelida, about 35 minutes from Barcelona, after a retaining/containment wall collapsed onto the tracks”

Daily Express

Reporting stresses uncertainty: ADIF and Catalan officials said the wall "likely" or "probably" fell because of heavy rain, yet investigators are continuing to examine infrastructure.

Daily Express

Inquiries into the separate Andalusia crash have found damaged track that may or may not be causal.

The incidents have prompted service suspensions, urgent audits and public pressure for answers.

Media coverage varies between sources that attribute the events strongly to weather and those that emphasize ongoing probes and unresolved technical causes.