Three freight wagons hit a locomotive and derail in Martorell, near Barcelona

What happened

Three freight wagons loaded with cereal came loose and rolled along the track until they hit a Renfe Mercancías locomotive at Martorell, in the Barcelona province, on the afternoon of 3 November 2026. The causes had not been determined in the reports. Ser Catalunya, as cited by ABC, described a runaway of rolling stock, while Adif sources told EFE that the wagons had come loose for reasons still to be determined. Adif sources also said the collision happened on the private Cargill branch line in Martorell, which connects to the rail network. After the impact, the three wagons derailed.

The driver and rail service

Sources disagree on the condition of the driver. El Periódico reported that the freight train driver was injured and taken to hospital, while Adif sources said his health was good. LaVanguardia and ABC instead reported that the driver was not injured but was taken to a medical centre in line with the protocol for such cases. Renfe sources told EFE that the accident did not affect Rodalies services, and El Periódico reported that the rail network was not affected.

Investigation

El Periódico reported that an investigation had been opened to establish the causes of the accident and the damage to the trains involved. The reports do not yet give a confirmed cause.