Rail link restored in Vila-seca after second train crash in a month in Catalonia

The rail link between Tarragona, Cambrils and Reus in southern Catalonia was back in operation on Monday morning after an accident disrupted the service on Sunday evening.

A regional Renfe service with 76 passengers traveling between Barcelona and Tortosa, near Catalonia's southern border with Valencia, clashed head-on with a cargo locomotive operated by FGC at 9.54pm in Vila-seca, near Port Aventura amusement park.

Around 20 people on board were injured, including six in a serious condition who were sent to Santa Tecla and Joan XXIII hospitals in Tarragona.

Civil Protection launched its emergency protocol for train incidents, with around 80 members of the medical emergency services and fire service working at the site.

An investigation has opened into the causes of the incident – Adif, the Spanish government-owned company managing the train network, said the cargo locomotive had problems with its brake system, while the Catalan News Agency (ACN) reported some passengers saying it was in fact the regional service that was unable to brake upon arrival in Vila-seca station.

The locomotive involved in the accident was owned by FGC, the Catalan government-owned railway company, and was returning to its base after getting its wheels treated.

One of the passengers ACN spoke to, Lluís Alemany, explained how the incident was witnessed from the regional service: "There was a big hit, the lights went down, the alarm rang, windows smashed and everyone was shouting."

"It's been a bit of a shock. We did not expect it, we take the train every week and now it is a bit scary," he added.

Second train accident in a month

The accident in Vila-seca was the second one in Catalonia within a month.

On May 16, the driver of a passenger train died after a freight train derailed near the station of Sant Boi, just outside Barcelona, leading to a collision.

The accident occurred between the stations of Sant Boi and Molí Nou, south of the Catalan capital.

83 people suffered minor injuries in the incident and were treated and discharged within a day.