A commuter train collided with a crane in the southeastern Spanish region of Murcia, resulting in several minor injuries. The incident occurred on the Cartagena-Los Nietos line, operated by FEVE, when a truck-mounted crane’s arm encroached on the rail clearance and struck the train, shattering several carriage windows. Regional President Fernando Lopez Miras confirmed that four people suffered minor injuries and emphasized that the train did not derail.
The accident happened around midday on Thursday, with 16 passengers on board the meter-gauge commuter train. Emergency services reported that the crane was not affiliated with state railway operator Renfe or infrastructure manager Adif. The cause of the incident is currently unknown.
This incident marks the third rail accident in Spain in less than a week. On Sunday, a collision between two high-speed trains in the southern region of Andalusia killed at least 42 people and injured dozens. Two days later, a commuter train in Catalonia struck a retaining wall that had collapsed onto the tracks after heavy rain, resulting in the death of the driver and injuring 37 passengers, five critically.
The series of accidents has raised concerns about the management and maintenance of Spain’s rail network. Political analyst Ruben Tamboleo suggests that the accidents reflect a deeper issue, stating that technical warnings about the network have been ignored and funds have been directed elsewhere. He argues that the prioritization of other investments over rail maintenance is unacceptable, particularly given the current economic challenges faced by the Spanish people.
The Spanish government has yet to comment on the latest incident, but the accidents are likely to prompt a review of the country’s rail safety measures. As the investigation into the causes of the accidents continues, the focus will be on ensuring the safety and reliability of Spain’s rail network to prevent such incidents in the future.
