Train fire throws Madrid to Barcelona travel into chaos over holiday weekend

Nearly 20,000 passengers were affected when an AVE caught fire in Zaragoza, with delays and timetable changes continuing on Tuesday

A fire on a Renfe AVE high-speed train brought services between Madrid and Barcelona to a halt for around five hours on Monday October 12, leaving thousands of passengers stranded during Spain's busy return from the long holiday weekend.

The blaze broke out at around 4.05 pm near Ricla, in Zaragoza province, when the rear power unit of a train travelling from Madrid to Figueres, in Girona, caught fire. The incident forced railway infrastructure manager Adif to cut the electricity supply to the overhead lines, stopping trains in both directions along one of Spain's busiest rail routes.

All 283 passengers on board were evacuated. The fire did not reach the passenger carriages and no injuries were reported, although the difficult terrain made the evacuation challenging.

Firefighters from the Zaragoza provincial fire service attended the scene with three fire engines and a water tanker. Crews had to negotiate a steep embankment to reach the train and tackle the flames.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated. Renfe has said the train had passed its inspections and was in proper working order. The affected vehicle belongs to the operator's oldest high-speed fleet, the Alstom Series 100, which entered service in 1992.

Holidaymakers left facing long waits

The timing could not have been worse for the passengers returning home after Spain's October 12 National Day holiday. The disruption affected almost 20,000 passengers using Renfe, Iryo and Ouigo services.

Trains were held at stations including Madrid, Guadalajara, Calatayud, Zaragoza and Lleida, while other departures were unable to leave. Some passengers waited for hours without clear information about when their journeys could continue.

Renfe and Iryo arranged replacement buses to help people bypass the affected section, although finding enough vehicles proved difficult. Other passengers resorted to taxis to reach their destinations. Train services began to resume gradually on Monday evening, but the problems haven't ended there.

Delays continue on Tuesday

The damaged train remains on the tracks near Ricla, meaning services must share a single line between Ricla and Plasencia de Jalón. Trains are restricted to 80 kilometres per hour through this section while crews work to remove the wreckage and repair the infrastructure.

Renfe has reorganised its timetable, combining some services and changing departure times to keep more trains running. Iryo and Ouigo are also experiencing delays as they share the available track capacity.

Passengers travelling today are advised to check their individual train times before leaving home. Renfe is offering free ticket changes and cancellations for affected journeys, while passengers should contact Iryo or Ouigo directly for information about their bookings and compensation options.

Image: Dipu de Zaragoza