Second Deadly Train Crash Strikes Spain Near Barcelona

Viewers tuning into BBC Breakfast on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, were met with sobering news just minutes into the broadcast. Hosts Jon Kay and Sarah Campbell, joined by the usual team of Carol Kirkwood on weather and correspondents John Watson and Peter Ruddick on sports and current affairs, delivered what Sarah described as a "heartbreaking" update—a deadly train crash had struck Spain for the second time in just three days.

"A train driver has been killed and more than 30 people have been injured after another rail crash in Spain—the second in three days. Officials believe the crash near Barcelona was caused by the collapse of a wall," Sarah Campbell announced, according to the Express and multiple BBC Breakfast recaps. The gravity of her words set the tone for a broadcast that would not shy away from the tragic events unfolding across Europe.

The incident occurred on the evening of January 20, 2026, when a Rodalies commuter train, traveling between Gelida and Sant Sadurní—about 35 kilometers west of Barcelona—struck a retaining wall that had collapsed onto the tracks. The wall’s collapse, as local officials told the BBC, was attributed to heavy storms battering eastern Spain at the time. Coastal areas along the eastern and northwestern stretches of the country had been put on high alert due to severe weather conditions, a factor that emergency services believe contributed to the devastating derailment.

Emergency response was swift. According to Catalonia regional fire Inspector Claudi Gallardo, all passengers were safely evacuated from the train carriages, a small glimmer of relief in an otherwise grim scenario. Eleven ambulances and 35 fire crews were dispatched to the scene, working through the night to treat the injured and clear the wreckage. The local fire service confirmed their crews’ rapid deployment, emphasizing the scale of the response required for such a catastrophe.

Victims of the crash were transported to nearby hospitals—Moisès Broggi, Bellvitge, and Vila Franca—where medical teams prepared for a sudden influx of patients. Among the more than 30 injured, five people were reported in serious condition, six sustained less severe injuries, and 26 were described as being in a "mild" state, according to emergency services cited by the BBC and the Mirror.

In a pre-recorded segment, BBC correspondent Barry Caffrey painted a vivid picture of the chaos and urgency: "Ambulance crews [are] dealing with the aftermath of the derailment which happened outside Barcelona yesterday evening. Local officials said the Rodalies commuter train collided with a wall, which fell onto the track between Gelida and Sant Sadurní. The incident occurred as heavy storms battered eastern Spain. Coastal areas on the east and northwest of the country are on high alert because of the weather."

This tragedy comes hard on the heels of an even deadlier rail disaster. Just two days prior, on January 18, a high-speed train collision in Andalusia—near Córdoba—claimed at least 42 lives and left the nation in mourning. As reported by BBC Breakfast, the Andalusia accident was one of the worst Spanish rail incidents in over a decade. The train, traveling from Malaga to Madrid, crossed onto another track and collided with an oncoming train. The cause of the Andalusia crash remains under investigation, with Spain's transport minister, Óscar Puente, remarking to reporters that "it was very strange that the derailment had happened on a straight section of track."

The impact of these twin tragedies has rippled across Spain. On January 20, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited victims in hospital, offering comfort and solidarity to those affected. That same evening, a mass was held in the city of Huelva to honor the victims of the Andalusia crash—a poignant reminder of the human cost behind the headlines.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez took to X (formerly Twitter) to address the nation and the world. His message was simple but heartfelt: "All my affection and solidarity with the victims and their families." The Prime Minister’s words echoed the sentiments of a country grappling with shock, grief, and a growing sense of urgency regarding rail safety and infrastructure resilience amid increasingly volatile weather patterns.

Investigations are now underway to determine the precise causes of both train crashes. While the Andalusia collision’s cause remains uncertain, the Catalonia incident appears directly linked to the collapse of the retaining wall during heavy storms. These back-to-back accidents have reignited debate in Spain about the state of its rail network, maintenance protocols, and the challenges posed by extreme weather—issues that are likely to remain in the spotlight as authorities seek answers and accountability.

Wednesday’s BBC Breakfast did not focus solely on the Spanish tragedies, however. The program also provided viewers with updates on major political developments, including coverage of US President Donald Trump’s highly anticipated arrival in Davos for the World Economic Forum. The intersection of global politics and economic policy was front and center, with the BBC team breaking down what Trump’s presence might mean for international relations and the ongoing debates around trade, climate, and security.

On the domestic front, the show explored the UK government’s £15 billion Warm Homes Plan, a policy initiative aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing heating costs for millions of households. The plan, which has drawn both praise and criticism from various political factions, was discussed in the context of rising energy prices and the broader push for greener, more sustainable living. The BBC presenters also highlighted a concerning trend: an increase in driving test cheating, a topic that has sparked debate about the integrity of the UK’s licensing system and the pressures facing new drivers.

For regular viewers, the breadth of coverage on BBC Breakfast—ranging from international tragedy to local policy debates—was a reminder of the show’s commitment to keeping audiences informed, no matter how difficult the news. As Sarah Campbell and Jon Kay navigated the day’s stories, the team struck a careful balance between empathy and journalistic rigor, ensuring that the human stories behind the headlines were never lost.

As Spain mourns its losses and begins the long process of recovery and investigation, the events of the past week serve as a sobering reminder of the fragility of infrastructure in the face of nature’s fury—and the resilience of communities in times of crisis. For those watching from afar, the hope is that lessons will be learned and that such tragedies may, in time, become far less common.