Else Beekman
A passenger train collision with a crane in Cartagena (Murcia) on Thursday 22 January 2026 has added fresh urgency to Spain rail safety concerns, following a week in which multiple incidents have shaken confidence in the network and triggered strike action by train drivers.
The latest incident happened in the Alumbres area, on the Cartagena–Los Nietos line, when a commuter service struck a construction crane. Emergency services treated several people for injuries, most described as minor, while some reports mention one serious injury. The train did not derail, but the line was disrupted while the scene was secured and checks were carried out.
What happened in Cartagena, and what officials are saying
Spain’s rail infrastructure manager Adif has been quoted as saying the crane did not belong to railway operations and was obstructing the route, prompting an investigation into how it came to be in the train’s path. For passengers, it was the kind of sudden, everyday journey interruption that is normally a local story, except this week, it lands in a national climate of heightened sensitivity around rail risk and reliability.
A difficult week on Spain’s railways
The Cartagena collision follows reporting on a series of incidents over recent days, including:
- In Andalusia, a deadly crash near Adamuz (Córdoba) involving a high-speed service has dominated headlines and political debate. The investigations are still ongoing.
- In Catalonia, a separate incident near Gelida was reported after severe weather, resulting in a fatality and numerous injuries.
- Reporting around the same period also referred to at least one additional derailment without injuries, while commuter services, especially in Catalonia, have faced acute disruption.
Taken together, the incidents have intensified public scrutiny of infrastructure, maintenance, and operational decision-making, the background against which today’s Cartagena crash is being read.
Strike dates: what’s planned, and when
Train drivers’ union SEMAF has called a three-day national strike from 9 to 11 February 2026. They demand stronger safety guarantees and arguing that standards have deteriorated. Spain’s transport minister Óscar Puente has said the government will seek dialogue and that investigations are continuing into recent accidents.
For travellers, that means the next few weeks may bring a double hit. On the one hand ongoing service instability in some regions. On the other hand, the possibility of nationwide disruption if talks fail to prevent the February stoppage.
Update: the missing dog has been found
In a rare bright spot amid the week’s grim rail headlines, Boro, the missing dog has been found. He went missing after the Adamuz crash, and is now reunited with Ana García, the woman who made public appeals for help. Volunteers and rescue teams had urged people not to chase the frightened animal. Reports say coordinated efforts eventually led to a safe recovery and reunion.
Boro’s owner is Ana’s sister and she remains in critical condition in intensive care, according to reporting around the case. Meanwhile supporters described the dog’s return as a small moment of relief for the family amid a wider tragedy.