The closure of the Madrid-Andalucia rail line could cost Malaga’s tourism economy €185.6million and nearly 2,000 jobs, industry leaders have warned.

Turismo Costa del Sol estimates that the line will be out of service for 46 days following the collision of two high-speed trains in Urda, Toledo, on October 28, which killed 69 people.

The report, seen by EFE, uses December 13 as a working reopening date based on Renfe’s suspension of ticket sales.

There is still no official date for services to resume. Authorities have said work to restore the line would take around ten days once a judge authorises it.

The tourism board estimates that the shutdown will remove around 213,900 rail seats between Madrid and Malaga. çAirlines are expected to add around 39,435 seats over the same period, replacing fewer than one in five of those lost on the railway.

That leaves an estimated shortfall of 174,465 seats across trains and flights. The report assumes 80% would have been used by tourists and 20% by Malaga province residents travelling for work, leisure or family reasons. On that basis, it projects around 139,600 fewer tourist arrivals.

With visitors spending an average of €1,090 per trip, the board puts the loss of direct tourist spending at €152.2million.

Including the knock-on effects across the provincial economy takes the estimate to €185.6million, with a projected loss of 1,974 jobs.

The board warned that the situation was becoming increasingly difficult for tourism businesses while they waited for a reopening date.

It said a fuller assessment of the economic damage would take several months.