Train service between Madrid and Galicia resumes at high speed following a week of interruption.
Over the course of seven consecutive days, more than 50,000 passengers were affected by the suspension of train services in Spain, with 101 trains being canceled. The disruption was due to forest fires in Ourense, causing significant inconvenience for travellers.
To mitigate the impact, Renfe reinforced other services with origin and destination in Galicia, such as the Madrid - A Coruña, Ourense - Alicante, and Madrid - Vigo lines. Special trains were announced for the Madrid to A Coruña route at 5:10 PM and for the Vigo to Madrid route at 5:25 PM.
Staff from Renfe and Adif provided assistance to passengers spending the night at the stations, distributing food, drinks, and blankets. Station facilities in Madrid and Galicia remained open all night since August 13.
The nights of August 14 and 15 saw the most passengers using the stations to spend the night, with over 500 hotel rooms being provided to people with integrated tickets who lost connections with other trains.
In response to the crisis, Deutsche Bahn (DB), the German railway company, coordinated the restoration of high-speed service between Madrid and Galicia on August 13, 2021, and provided information about the impact on travelers and the operation of replacement buses and taxis. Renfe also put into operation over 65 buses to provide road transport on the Zamora and Puebla de Sanabria-Ourense stretch and to the final destinations.
The president of the Spanish National Railway Network, Álvaro Fernández Heredia, announced that no additional action is needed for those with tickets for afternoon trains. The Madrid-Galicia high-speed service was restored at 5:00 PM on the specified date.
In addition, the Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, announced that special trains will be arranged to transport those who were unable to travel due to the fires. Adif confirmed the good condition of the infrastructure and received confirmation from emergency services before restoring the service.
The service suspension, while disruptive, was met with a swift and coordinated response from Renfe and Adif, ensuring the safety and comfort of passengers during this challenging time.
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