Deadly Derailments Rock Spain's Rail Network: Union Demands Safety Assurances Before Nationwide Strike
A series of devastating derailments in southern Spain has left dozens dead and wounded, sparking outrage among train drivers who are now calling for a nationwide strike. The largest union representing train drivers, SEMAF, says the situation is "unacceptable" and demands criminal liability from those responsible for ensuring safety in the railway infrastructure.
The latest tragedy occurred on Sunday when two high-speed trains collided near the town of Adamuz, killing at least 43 people and injuring dozens more. In another incident on Tuesday, a commuter train hit a retaining wall that had fallen onto the tracks in Gelida, near Barcelona, resulting in one fatality and 37 injuries.
The union's strike call comes after a letter was sent to the rail network operator ADIF last August requesting an investigation into flaws on train lines across the country. The recommendations included reducing speeds at certain points until the tracks were fully repaired.
With the government facing mounting pressure, Transport Minister Oscar Puente has vowed to "sit down and talk" with the union to try to avoid the strike, which he says is motivated by "the emotional state that the train drivers are experiencing following the death of two colleagues."
However, many are questioning the safety of Spain's rail network, with commuters expressing concern over the increasing number of derailments. Raluca Maria Pasca, a waitress who travels on high-speed trains frequently, notes that she has recently felt the trains "shaking lately." She believes the problem needs to be addressed urgently.
The opposition Popular Party has also demanded an "immediate clarification" on the state of Spain's railways, with party leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo writing that "this is too much."
As authorities continue their investigation into Sunday's high-speed crash, they have imposed temporary speed limits and are conducting safety checks. Meanwhile, services across Catalonia's main commuter rail network have been suspended until further notice.
The situation highlights the growing concerns over train safety in Spain, with many calling for urgent action to be taken to address the problems plaguing the nation's railways.
A series of devastating derailments in southern Spain has left dozens dead and wounded, sparking outrage among train drivers who are now calling for a nationwide strike. The largest union representing train drivers, SEMAF, says the situation is "unacceptable" and demands criminal liability from those responsible for ensuring safety in the railway infrastructure.
The latest tragedy occurred on Sunday when two high-speed trains collided near the town of Adamuz, killing at least 43 people and injuring dozens more. In another incident on Tuesday, a commuter train hit a retaining wall that had fallen onto the tracks in Gelida, near Barcelona, resulting in one fatality and 37 injuries.
The union's strike call comes after a letter was sent to the rail network operator ADIF last August requesting an investigation into flaws on train lines across the country. The recommendations included reducing speeds at certain points until the tracks were fully repaired.
With the government facing mounting pressure, Transport Minister Oscar Puente has vowed to "sit down and talk" with the union to try to avoid the strike, which he says is motivated by "the emotional state that the train drivers are experiencing following the death of two colleagues."
However, many are questioning the safety of Spain's rail network, with commuters expressing concern over the increasing number of derailments. Raluca Maria Pasca, a waitress who travels on high-speed trains frequently, notes that she has recently felt the trains "shaking lately." She believes the problem needs to be addressed urgently.
The opposition Popular Party has also demanded an "immediate clarification" on the state of Spain's railways, with party leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo writing that "this is too much."
As authorities continue their investigation into Sunday's high-speed crash, they have imposed temporary speed limits and are conducting safety checks. Meanwhile, services across Catalonia's main commuter rail network have been suspended until further notice.
The situation highlights the growing concerns over train safety in Spain, with many calling for urgent action to be taken to address the problems plaguing the nation's railways.
I'm so worried about what's happening on the trains in Spain right now 
. A lot of people are losing their lives and it's not fair 
. The union is demanding safety assurances before they go on strike, and honestly, who can blame them? 
They have a point - we should all be safe when we're traveling by train 
.
. I just hope the government takes this seriously and fixes the problems fast 
. We need to make sure that our trains are safe, especially with so many people relying on them 
. I don't want anyone else to go through what those families have been through 
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, but it seems like common sense says we should be looking at ways to prevent these kinds of accidents in the first place 
. Let's hope the government and unions can work together to make sure our trains are safe for everyone 
.
ugh this is getting outta hand! like, seriously Spain can't even get its rail network together 
. These derailments are unacceptable and the union is right to demand safety assurances before they go on strike. it's not just about train drivers, it's about all passengers who have to deal with these crazy incidents 
.
the fact that trains were shaking (thanks for sharing Raluca!) is a red flag right there 
.
. how many more lives have to be lost before something is done about it? 
. What really needs to happen is some real action on their part to address these safety concerns 
. We all know that Spain's rail network has been plagued by problems for years, and it's high time someone took responsibility 
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. And let's not forget the opposition party's call for an investigation into the state of Spain's railways – it's about time someone started asking tough questions 
i mean i know accidents happen but 43 people dead from one derailment is just devastating 
so i hope they get what they want from the government which is something to be done ASAP about these derailments.
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. We need some real answers here, not just empty promises from the government 
. Just hope they get to the bottom of this and fix our railways once and for all 
.
what's going on with spanish rail? it's like they dont care about passenger lives at all 
& btw, cant we just have a national conversation about train safety instead of blaming individual drivers? 
. I get it, accidents happen, but come on, 43 people dead? That's just devastating 
. It's time for some serious action to be taken, whether it's speed limits or actual repairs to the tracks 
. Can't we just get this sorted out already? 
. Like, how many times do you have to crash before people get serious? 43 dead and dozens more injured at Adamuz? And now they're saying the trains are shaking? That's just not right, mate! 
the union is right to demand safety assurances but it's not just them, the whole system needs a overhaul 
trains r supposed 2 b safe 4 everyone, not just some privileged commuters who can afford 2 travel fast 
I'm not buying into all this fuss about a nationwide strike just yet. Like, I get that these derailments are super scary and people are hurt, but have we seen some actual data on how many trains are derailing in relation to the number of passengers? And what's with the speed limits being imposed now? That just seems like a temporary fix to me 
Can you believe this? Trains are like my favorite aunt – they can just get on your nerves sometimes! 
I mean, who wants to be stuck in a crowded train with no Wi-Fi and a delayed departure? 
Maybe we should all start reporting our own train troubles to get some attention. 