High-speed trains between Malaga and Madrid are cancelled for another month

MALAGA’s high-speed rail links to Madrid and beyond will be disrupted for at least one more month. 

The high-speed train between the capital city and the southern town will not be operational until March 23, only four days before Semana Sana. 

Operators like Iryo, Ouigo and others have been forced to refund and cancel tickets. 

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The news of these cancellations sounded alarms, and it was only after that that we discovered that high-speed trains will not operate for another month. 

Ouigo told its customers that the reason for cancellations were ‘due to circumstances beyond one’s control’ and informed them that they could reschedule their trip or receive a reimbursement. Iryo also cancelled all high-speed routes up until March. 

This delay is mainly due to the Amaduz crash that killed 46 people and the landslide which damaged the Alora section. 

Amaduz tracks are currently being investigated and trains are only allowed to travel at 60 km/h. 

Due to severe leakage issues, the Abdalajis Tunnel is also closed. Trains are now running on one track in parallel with no delays. 

READ MORE: Revealed: Madrid–Malaga high-speed rail shutdown after Adamuz disaster has cost the Costa del Sol €109 million in lost tourism

The tunnel itself is 8 kilometers long and has caused problems from its construction when the aquifer was punctured – Adif has supplied the municipality with tanker trucks regularly since then. 

The Alora track is being stabilized to prevent a landslide. 

Damage to this section was caused on 5 March. The repair of the damaged area has been made difficult by the unstable and wet state of the clay-based ground. 

This storm damage is what is currently most affecting the routes from Malaga to Madrid. 

The line is currently closed. Renfe offers passengers the choice of using the train service that operates to and from Santa Ana, before or after traveling by bus to this station.

READ MORE: Spain’s once world-beating rail network loses its luster after a string of accidents, disasters and driver strikes about safety

Prior to the disruption, Malaga was connected with Madrid by 26 daily buses. 

In the plenary session of February at Malaga City Hall, tomorrow, the PP party will bring forward an urgent motion regarding the state and condition of the rail services. 

“We had a highly regarded rail network in the past, but it is no more. Adamuz’s tragedy has forced us to rethink how we can do things better. All signs point to maintenance and upkeep problems. “We must take this issue seriously, and develop a comprehensive plan to invest in rail infrastructure,” said Mayor Francisco de la Torre. 

De la Torre is particularly concerned by the impact on the tourism sector, stating that there is an ‘obvious’ drop in hotel occupancy in Malaga compared to the same period last year. 

Francisco Salado spoke about his concerns for tourism and the lack of transparency by the central Ministry of Transport and Adif regarding the additional train delays. 

READ MORE: Spain agrees to fork out €20 million in fast-track compensation scheme for victims of Adamuz rail disaster

Salado states that it is “incomprehensible” that, at this stage, Easter is right around the bend, we are still without precise information regarding the return to the normal high-speed train service. 

Turismo Costa del Sol (and the Malaga Provincial Council) have estimated that the closure of high-speed rail between Malaga and Madrid from January to March had an economic impact of around 109 millions. 

This ‘will now undoubtedly be increased,’ according to Salado. 

He wants the government to provide tax breaks for businesses that suffer from the loss of revenue caused by the closing once the services are restored. 

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