There’s now a new confirmed date for the return of the direct high-speed rail link between Malaga and Madrid.
National rail operator Adif says services will resume on April 30 at midday, following months of disruption caused by storm damage near Alora.
The line has been partially out of action since February 4, when heavy rainfall triggered a landslide that brought down a retaining wall onto the tracks.
The timing of the reopening comes just ahead of the May Day long weekend, when demand between the two cities is expected to surge.
Months of disruption
Since the incident, Renfe has been running a reduced service using a backup plan that included bus transfers between Malaga and Antequera.
Travel times stretched beyond four hours, well above the usual three.
Meanwhile, competitors Iryo and Ouigo suspended ticket sales and are waiting for the full reopening before resuming operations. Iryo has even kept staff on temporary furlough during the disruption.
With the line restored, journey times are expected to return to around three hours.
A complex repair
Adif describes the repair as a ‘major and highly complex’ operation. Around 200,000 cubic metres of earth- roughly the equivalent of 28 football pitches – had to be dealt with after the collapse.
The damaged wall sits within a 540-metre-long slope rising 35 metres high.
Early repair efforts were also delayed by ongoing bad weather, which turned the area into mud and made work impossible for weeks.
Now, crews are reinstalling key railway systems, including tracks, electrification and signalling. Around 75 workers and 25 machines have been operating around the clock to speed up the process.
Initially, trains will run on a single track, with full two-track service expected to return later in the summer.
Political fallout
The prolonged disruption has sparked a heated political clash. Transport minister Oscar Puente and central government officials have faced criticism from regional leaders, particularly those from the Popular Party, who accused them of mishandling the crisis.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
