Spain’s high-speed network has long been among the country’s most celebrated infrastructure projects but has suffered with an increasing number of issues in recent years. Photograph: Guardia Civil/APWith the death toll confirmed from Spain’s worst train accident in more than a decade, the country is now grappling with a crisis of confidence in its rail system. A high-speed train derailed on Sunday night on a stretch of straight track in southern Spain, causing a collision with an oncoming train, which also came off the rails. Spain’s high-speed network is Europe’s largest and has long been among the country’s most celebrated infrastructure projects. The regional service train the morning after it collided with a collapsed wall between Sant Sadurni d'Anoia and Gelida, near Barcelona.

Source: The Irish Times January 24, 2026 03:06 UTC