Spain hit by fourth rail accident in a week (VIDEO)

Spain has suffered the fourth rail accident in less than a week, after a commuter train struck a crane in the southeastern region of Murcia, slightly injuring several people, the regional authorities have said.

The incident occurred around midday Thursday on the narrow-gauge Cartagena-Los Nietos line, operated under the FEVE brand. A meter-gauge commuter train leaving Cartagena at 11:40am local time and due in Los Nietos at 12:13pm was struck on its side near Alumbres, the regional Health Ministry said.

During the journey, the arm of a truck-mounted crane – not affiliated with state railway operator Renfe or infrastructure manager Adif – encroached on the rail clearance and struck the train, shattering several carriage windows but not causing derailment, the emergency services said.

Regional President Fernando Lopez Miras said on social media that four people had minor injuries and stressed that there was “no derailment.” Earlier reports suggested up to six were injured, with some taken to hospitals. Around 16 passengers were on board.

 
The collision follows a series of rail accidents in Spain this week. On Sunday, two high-speed trains collided in the southern Andalusia region, killing at least 42 people and injuring dozens. On Tuesday, a commuter train in Catalonia struck a retaining wall that collapsed onto the tracks after heavy rain, killing the driver and injuring 37 passengers, five of them critically. Earlier the same day, another commuter train in Catalonia derailed after hitting rocks that had fallen onto the line, though no serious injuries were reported.

Political analyst Ruben Tamboleo told RT that the series of accidents reflects “a management problem,” saying technical warnings about the network have been ignored and that funds have been directed elsewhere. 

“They were sending money to other things and not to repair the tracks,” he said, arguing that in the context of falling living standards, “we cannot allow to invest money abroad in Ukraine or in Morocco… when we really are struggling with the conditions of the Spanish people.”