Driver killed and several injured after train derails near Barcelona

A train driver has been killed and at least 15 people injured after a commuter train derailed and crashed near Barcelona, local media report.

According to local officials, the Rodalies train collided with a retaining wall which fell onto the track between Gelida and Sant Sadurní on Tuesday evening.

The severity of injuries suffered by passengers is currently being assessed by emergency services.

The incident occurred as heavy storms battered north-eastern Spain.

Eleven ambulances are on the scene in Gelida, Catalonia - around 35km (21.7 miles) west of Barcelona - treating those injured, emergency services said.

The local fire service said 35 crews have been sent to the scene and have had to rescue one passenger trapped inside the train.

Many coastal areas in the east and north-west of Spain are on high alert because of the weather. There have also been snowstorms in the Spanish Pyrenees and storms along the coast of Menorca, causing waves several metres high.

The crash in Catalonia comes two days after two high-speed trains collided in Adamuz, Andalusia, in one of the worst Spanish rail accidents in over a decade.

At least 42 people are known to have died after carriages on a Madrid-bound train derailed and crossed over to the opposite tracks and then collided with an oncoming high-speed train.

Anyone attending the agm?

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Rescuers worked through a second night and said the death toll included three bodies still trapped in a wrecked carriage.
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Sabotage has been ruled out, the interior minister has said, and the initial focus of investigators is on a broken rail on the high-speed line.
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Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia visited the site on Tuesday, shaking hands and speaking to emergency service workers near the site of the crash on the first of three days of national mourning.

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The royals also visited injured passengers later at a hospital in the city of Cordoba

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska ruled out sabotage, telling reporters that it "was never considered", and he stressed that all hypotheses remained open.

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Damaged rails have been the focus of the investigation so far

Óscar Puente warned against speculation and said a lot of cracks had been found on the track but investigators would have to determine whether they had caused the derailment or had been caused by it.

A 30cm gap in one of the rails is the current focus of the investigation, according to Spanish reports.

MP meets rail bosses over Taunton foot crossing where boy died

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An MP has met rail bosses to discuss what can be done to improve safety after a teenage boy was killed on a railway foot crossing.

Harry Basham, 17, was struck by a train in Taunton, Somerset, as he walked to work at about 07:00 BST on 24 October.

Gideon Amos, the Liberal Democrat MP for Taunton and Wellington, said he recently had a "constructive" meeting with Network Rail, which has described what happened as "a tragic accident".

His mother, Leanne Golding, wants to see changes before her son's inquest takes place in May, including a traffic light system and locking gates.

Amos said Network Rail provided data which showed the foot crossing was used about 35 times on an average day. He said the operator did not consider this heavy usage. He said: "I've asked for them to look at convenient alternative ways to cross the railway on foot, and most importantly, for consultation before any decision is taken for this crossing to be closed or kept open."

Golding said her son would have walked across the foot crossing "hundreds of times" to get to and from work. "There are so many ways someone can make a mistake down there, especially in the dark like it was that morning," she added.

A petition set up by a family friend calling for safety improvements has been signed more than 3,600 times.

In a statement, Network Rail said its thoughts were with Harry's family, friends and the local community. "We are in contact with Mr Amos and will engage with local authorities, stakeholders and the community on the future of the crossing," it added.

A spokesperson for the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said: "RAIB has submitted a report summarising the evidence gathered during our preliminary examination to His Majesty's Coroner. Our thoughts remain with everyone affected by this tragic accident," they added.

19th February

Connect and chat on the Chatty Bus, in partnership with Oxford Hospitals Charity and Age UK Oxfordshire!
Feeling lonely, looking for a friendly chat, or just wanting to brighten your day? Join our Chatty Bus event!

Friendly volunteers from Thames Travel, Oxford Hospitals Charity and Age UK Oxfordshire will be on board the X32 service from 09:00 to 14:30, ready to spark conversations and make introductions. We'll have conversation starters and information about local activities and social groups to suit all interests.

Here's what you can expect:
Friendly volunteers will be on board the X32 bus to chat and make introductions.
Conversation starters, light games, and information about local activities.

This event is perfect for:
Concessionary bus pass holders looking to socialise.
Anyone who is feeling lonely or isolated and wants to connect with others.
People of all ages who love exploring Oxford by bus and would like to chat to others.

  Date: Wednesday 21 January
Venue: Yeovil Railway Centre, Yeovil Junction Station, Newton Road, Yeovil, BA22 9UU
Time: 16.45 - 18.15  (Doors open 16.00)

Note that we have adjusted the timings slightly to suit train arrivals / departures

Refreshments (Teas, Coffees, Sandwiches, etc) will be available.

All are welcome - Members free, Non-Members £8 to include a year's SERUG membership).
 
2026 will be a big year for the recently Nationalised South Western Railway, with a number of operational targets already set by the DfT, plus publication of SWR's Business Plan due in March. So we're delighted that our Guest Speaker will be Peter Williams, SWR Customer and Commercial Director. Peter is responsible for customer and commercial strategy, marketing, retail systems and corporate affairs. He has worked in similar roles at ScotRail and East Coast Trains, and also had a spell working in the United States for Keolis.

Bus fare increases 'taking the mick', says MP

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A rise in bus fares across Lancashire is "outrageous" and operator Transdev are "taking the mick", an MP has said.

All-day tickets are rising from £6 to £7.50, while a weekly ticket is increasing from £19 to £25.

Burnley's MP Oliver Ryan has joined his Labour colleague for Hyndburn, Sarah Smith, in writing to the bus company urging it to reconsider.

However, Transdev has defended the changes, insisting that for many they will actually make journeys cheaper and more flexible.

Ryan told BBC Radio Lancashire the increases were "outrageous" and Transdev were "taking the mick".

"If they'd come back with an inflation rise then people would probably live with that," he said. "But this is a 60-odd per cent increase."

He said parents and students had contacted him concerned about the changes and "when people are struggling I've got to do right by my constituents".

Ryan has since launched a petition calling on the bus company to rethink the hikes and to bring forward alternative ticketing options that protect frequent local passengers from higher costs.

A Transdev spokesman said that despite the changes, many customers would pay less for the same journey - notably to and from Manchester.

He added that other new fares would offer greater flexibility across a larger geographical area, with no change in ticket price for customers making a single or return journey.

Bomb squad called after 'ammunition' handed in to Swindon charity shop

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The 'military ammunition' was reportedly handed in to a charity shop in a small bag

A large section of a retail park was temporarily evacuated after suspected ammunition was reportedly handed in to a charity shop.

The items, believed to have been donated in a small bag, were handed into the Cancer Research UK store at the Greenbridge Retail Park in Swindon earlier.

The items have since been taken by bomb disposal experts for testing and a cordon, set up around the building at 10:30 GMT, has since been lifted.

The Cancer Research UK store is expected to remain closed for the rest of Tuesday.

Wiltshire Police said: "The rest of the retail park remains open as usual."

Around five pieces of ammunition were reportedly handed in at the shop, with four of the items being 7.62mm - the standard size for many military small arms munitions.

A fifth item is thought to be a much larger type of round.

How landslides can affect rail travel

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Landslides are often triggered by weather conditions like heavy rain

If you're a regular train user, you may have experienced delays caused by landslides.

But what are they and why do they cause so many issues?

After a landslide in the New Forest led to a line closure and significant disruption, we've taken a closer look at the impact they have on Britain's rail network.

What is a landslide?

A landslide – also known as a landslip – is when rocks, earth and debris fall from a natural slope like a cliff, hill or mountain.

Why do landslides happen?

In scientific terms, landslides occur when the force of gravity acting on a slope exceeds its resisting forces. They can happen suddenly or over long periods of time and take place most frequently after periods of heavy rain when the ground is saturated with water.

Other factors that increase the chances of a landslip include:
- Prolonged hot or dry weather
- Cold weather
- Wind and storms
- Erosion
- Vibrations caused by traffic or construction work

It's believed that climate change could lead to an increase in landslides due to an increase in extreme weather conditions.

How do landslides affect rail travel?

Unlike vehicles on the road, trains are unable to swerve to avoid debris if it falls onto a railway line. This means services often have to be re-routed, leading to delays while Network Rail engineers remove the blockage. Any debris has to be removed from the line and infrastructure needs to be checked to ensure it is safe.

When a landslide takes place, the slope is often weakened, making further slips much more common.

Sometimes slopes on either side of a set of railway tracks need to be strengthened by improving drainage or adding stronger materials such as steel rods or soil nails. This work to stabilise the earth can take time and lead to significant disruption.

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Three people were killed and six injured when a train derailed after hitting a landslide in Aberdeenshire in 2020

How common are landslides in the south?

According to a Freedom of Information request submitted to Network Rail by New Civil Engineer, the British rail network experienced 147 land movements between 1 May 2023 and 30 April 2024.

The Southern region, which includes Dorset and Hampshire, experienced the highest number at 45.

A Great Western Railway service ran into rubble after a landslide at Cassington Road bridge, between Oxford and Hanborough in 2023.

Train lines were closed between Reading and London Paddington in 2024 due to a landslip and an unsafe tree.

A rail line in Bicester was partially closed after part of the track bed subsided following a landslip in 2024.

A landslip near Hook in Hampshire caused a railway track to collapse leaving passengers facing major disruption in 2023.

Two landslides in the space of three days led to a derailment and significant disruption in Dorset in 2009.

How dangerous can they be?

Though landslides most typically result in travel delays and structural damage, they can have more serious consequences.

In 1995, a train was derailed at Aisgill after hitting a landslide on the Settle to Carlisle line and was subsequently hit by another train. A guard died and nearly 30 people were injured.

A train derailed at Carmont in Aberdeenshire on 12 August 2020 after hitting a landslide following heavy rain. Three people died and six were injured in the incident. Network Rail was fined £6.7m in 2023 after admitting a series of failings which led to the deaths.

Last year, a train came off the tracks on the West Coast Main Line at Shap in Cumbria. Of the 87 people on board, four were left with minor injuries but no-one required hospital treatment.

What work is being done to mitigate the impact of landslides?

Network Rail uses helicopters equipped with laser imaging, detection and ranging to identify sites prone to landslides.

Where sites are at risk, motion sensors and CCTV are used to detect soil and rock movement. These sensors set off an alarm if a risk is detected and the area will be inspected by engineers.

Slopes can be stabilised by putting in drainage or using steel rods or soil nails. If these options are not enough to fix the issue, Network Rail will re-profile the slope to reduce its angle, making it less prone to landslides.

Network Rail deploys people and resources to areas under flood warnings by the Environment Agency and Flood Forecasting Centre.

Spain train crash recovery continues as investigators probe 'gap' in rail

Heavy machinery is being used to assist in the recovery following a two-train crash in southern Spain which killed at least 41 people.

Rescuers worked through a second night as more bodies are feared to be trapped in the wreckage.

More than 120 people were injured when carriages on a Madrid-bound train derailed and crossed over to the opposite tracks, hitting an oncoming train in Adamuz on Sunday evening.

A faulty or damaged weld on a rail is being investigated as a factor in the crash, Spanish media report.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has cancelled his planned trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, pledging to get to the bottom of Spain's worst train disaster in more than a decade.

Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia will visit the site later on Tuesday. Three days of national mourning have been announced.

Transport Minister Óscar Puente said the death toll "is not yet final". Officials are working to identify the dead.

Puente said the investigation could take at least a month, describing the incident as "extremely strange".

Spanish media report that a 30cm gap in one of the rails is the current focus of the investigation.

Technicians told the El Mundo newspaper that a "bad" or "deteriorated" weld was "more than likely" the cause for the derailment.

Ignacio Barron, head of Spain's Commission of Investigation of Rail Accidents (CIAF), said on RTVE: "What always plays a part in a derailment is the interaction between the track and the vehicle, and that is what the commission is currently [looking into]."

However, Spain's El País newspaper reports that it was not clear whether the fault was a cause or a result of the crash.

On Monday, Renfe President Álvaro Fernández Heredia apparently ruled out "human error", telling RNE TV show Las Mañanas that, if "the driver makes a mistake, the system itself corrects it".

Four hundred passengers and staff were on board the two trains, the rail authorities said. Emergency services treated 122 people, with 41, including children, still in hospital. Of those, 12 are in intensive care.

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