The Costa del Sol’s vital C-1 commuter train is set to close for six months between Malaga and Torremolinos, it has emerged.
According to capacity planning documents from Adif, the closure is expected to take place between late 2027 and early 2028, although dates remain provisional.
The shutdown is needed to carry out long-awaited upgrades, including the doubling of a 2.8km stretch of track between Campamento Benítez and Plaza Mayor.
There will also be improvements to stations, works in the airport tunnel and upgrades beneath the Guadalmedina river.
The aim is to increase capacity on one of the busiest commuter lines in southern Spain.
Will it actually improve services?
The government says the works will allow trains to run every 15 minutes instead of 20.
But internal reports from both Adif and the Transport Ministry suggest that won’t be fully achievable without a second phase of works – specifically another track duplication between Carvajal and Benalmadena, which has yet to be confirmed.
In other words, passengers could face months of disruption without seeing the full benefits immediately.
Replacement buses likely
Because the line is classified as a public service route, Renfe will be required to provide alternative transport.
While no final plan has been announced, replacement bus services are expected, potentially on a large scale.
Renfe has already signalled it is preparing for future disruptions by creating a dedicated bus subsidiary to handle these kinds of situations.
Stations still not ready
At the same time, key upgrades to station platforms – needed to run longer trains – remain unclear.
Several stations, including Los Boliches, Carvajal, El Pinillo, Plaza Mayor and Malaga Centro Alameda, require expansion, but there is still no confirmed timeline for these works.
A separate line, the C-2 between Gobantes and Cartama, is also set to be partially shut for nine months, due to tunnel and bridge works.
A major hit for commuters
The Malaga–Fuengirola corridor is one of the most heavily used rail routes on the Costa del Sol, relied on by both commuters and tourists year-round.
A closure of this scale, even if temporary, is likely to cause significant disruption across the region.
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