Commuter Train Hits Construction Crane in Southeastern Spain

A commuter train crashed into a construction crane in southeastern Spain on Thursday, leaving an undetermined number of people with light injuries, according to regional emergency services.

The incident occurred near Cartagena in the Murcia region. Emergency officials said the train did not derail or overturn, easing fears of more serious consequences.

“The train hasn’t been overturned nor derailed,” a spokesperson for Murcia’s emergency services told Reuters, adding that those injured were reported to have sustained only minor injuries.

The crash comes amid heightened concern over rail safety in Spain following a series of recent incidents. On Sunday, a deadly high-speed train collision in the southern Andalusia region claimed at least 43 lives. Earlier this week, two other train accidents were reported in Catalonia, further drawing attention to the country’s rail infrastructure.

Spain’s rail infrastructure operator, Adif, confirmed the disruption in a post on X, saying traffic on the affected line was interrupted due to “the intrusion into the infrastructure gauge by a crane not belonging to the railway operation.” No additional details were provided on how the crane came to be in the train’s path.

Rail services in the area were temporarily suspended as authorities assessed the situation and worked to restore normal operations. Investigations are expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and whether safety protocols were breached.

The latest crash adds to a troubling week for Spain’s rail network, as officials face mounting pressure to review safety measures and prevent further accidents.