Updated July 28, 2017 22:44:07

Photo: Damage was done to the front of the train and between the first two carriages. (AP: Joseph Wilson)

More than 50 people have been injured after a Spanish commuter train crashed into the buffers at a station in north-eastern Barcelona.

Catalan Government health chief Antoni Comi said 54 people in all received medical treatment, with 51 taken to city hospitals.

He said just one person was seriously injured.

"When the train arrived at Francia station it applied the brakes but at the same time it made a noisy crash," passenger Said Saharaui 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."

Damage was done to the train's nose and between the train's first and second car. The driver was not seriously injured.

Photo: Emergency services were quick to respond and treat all those injured, authorities said.. (AP: Adrian Quiroga)

RENFE rail company spokesman Antonio Carmona said there were no immediate details on the cause of the accident, which happened at 7:15am (local time).

Spain's Public Works Minister Inigo de la Serna said information from the black box of the train would be transferred to an investigating commission, which would be in charge of determining the causes of the accident.

The train had started at the coastal town of Sant Vicenc de Calders, south of Barcelona.

Mr Comi said some 18 emergency service units were deployed.

"We were able to attend to the injured very quickly," he said.

The accident came as RENFE rail workers staged a one-day strike. The affected train was running as part of minimum services ordered by the Public Works Ministry.

Francia is Barcelona's second main train station after Sants, which handles the bullet train and most intercity services.

AP

Topics: rail-transport, accidents---other, spain

First posted July 28, 2017 21:55:01