Barcelona train crash injures 56

A TrAIN crashed into station buffers in Barcelona during rush hour yesterday, injuring 56 travellers.

Officials said 53 passengers were taken to hospital, with one man seriously injured by a blow to the chest, although health authorities said his life was not in danger.

The accident happened at 7.15am on a train coming into Francia station, Barcelona’s second main station.

The impact of the crash smashed the nose of the train and left it hanging off one side. More damage occurred between the train’s first and second cars.

Said Saharaui, who was on the train, said: ‘The passengers were thrown to the floor. Even though the train did brake, it wasn’t until the crash when it reached a full stop.’

The crash came as rail workers staged a oneday strike, with the affected train running as part of minimum services ordered by the public works ministry.

Officials are investigating data and equipment from the driver’s cabin to try to understand the cause of the accident.