Lorraine Williamson
From coastal resorts to historic cities, tourist trains have become a familiar sight in Spain. Styled as miniature locomotives pulling carriages, they promise a relaxed way to explore landmarks without long walks — an attraction for families, older travellers and summer visitors.
They operate at a slow pace and are marketed as safe. However, Friday’s events in Santiago de Compostela have cast a shadow over that perception.
A tragedy in Santiago’s historic centre
In the Galician capital, a woman, believed to be 84 years old, lost her life after being hit by one of these sightseeing trains. According to witnesses, she was crossing near — but not directly on — a marked pedestrian walkway when the vehicle approached. Unable to stop in time, the driver struck her, leaving her trapped beneath the carriages.
Despite a rapid response from police, paramedics and firefighters, she was declared dead at the scene. Fire crews were forced to lift the train to recover her body. At the time, the vehicle was carrying 39 passengers on its summer circuit through the city.
Shock and official response
Residents and bystanders were visibly shaken, and traffic in the surrounding streets was halted. Santiago’s mayor, Goretti Sanmartín, alongside mobility councillor Xan Duro, arrived shortly after the accident. They promised a full investigation into the circumstances and confirmed that further safety measures are not being ruled out.
Spotlight on the operator
The service, run since April by Autocares Rías Baixas under a six-year municipal concession, has quickly become a fixture of the city’s tourism offering. Whether the tragedy was the result of driver error or simply an unavoidable accident remains unclear, but the operator will now face scrutiny as the inquiry progresses.
Wider debate on safety
Tourist trains have long been popular in Spain, particularly on hot days when sightseeing on foot can be exhausting. Yet their integration into everyday traffic raises questions. How safe are they in crowded historic centres? Should routes be reassessed, or crossings more closely monitored?
Tuk tuk Madrid increasingly irritates local residents
For Santiago, a city that welcomes millions of pilgrims and tourists each year, this fatality is a sobering reminder that leisure transport must coexist with public safety. As the investigation unfolds, the debate over whether tourist trains remain a harmless novelty — or a risk in busy urban streets — is likely to intensify across Spain.
Source: Antena 3