Following yesterday’s train accident in Urda (Toledo), Renfe has suspended high-speed service between Madrid and Andalusia, as well as AVE service from Barcelona and Valencia to Seville and Málaga.
Iryo has also canceled all its trips departing from Madrid-Puerta de Atocha and bound for the southern corridor, with no scheduled date for resumption, while Ouigo suspended its services between Madrid and Andalusia yesterday until at least November 2.
Although Renfe has suspended ticket sales on the Madrid-Andalusia AVE corridor until December 13, that does not necessarily mean that service will be suspended until that date. If Adif reopens the corridor earlier, Renfe will resume service; however, Adif has not yet announced how long service will be suspended.
Furthermore, Renfe has announced that tomorrow, Friday, October 30, it will unveil an alternative transportation plan to facilitate travel for passengers needing to travel between Madrid and Andalusia in the coming days. The plan will combine train trips to specific stations with bus rides to complete the journey.
Rail service will also be affected by the nationwide strike in support of rail safety called by the train engineers’ union (Semaf) for all companies in the Renfe group today, Thursday the 29th—a strike that had already been called prior to the tragic accident in Urda.
Madrid–Andalusia Bus Connection
The Spanish Bus Transport Confederation (Confebus) has announced that its member companies have increased the number of available seats fivefold. Among them, the company Socibus has already made more than 3,500 seats available to travelers between Madrid (Estación Sur) and Córdoba, Seville, Huelva, Cádiz, Jerez, and Andújar (Jaén).
Despite the complications arising from high demand, the company intends to maintain the extraordinary capacity of between 3,000 and 3,500 seats per day, which could be increased or reduced depending on available resources and changes in demand.
However, Socibus noted in a statement that, even by redoubling its efforts, “regular road transport does not have sufficient capacity to fully absorb the volume of passengers who typically travel by rail between Madrid and Andalusia.” “There are material, human, and operational limitations that cannot be resolved immediately,” the company explained.
In addition to Socibus, other companies, such as ALSA and Interbus, also offer connections to Andalusia from Madrid. You can check schedules, availability, and destinations on their respective websites. Given the enormous difficulties ground transportation is facing in absorbing the increase in demand following the accident in Urda, bus tickets are selling out quickly even after service has been expanded.
Air connections
As a result of the train accident in Urda, demand for alternative transportation to Andalusia caused a spike in airline ticket prices. That is why Iberia has capped the maximum prices for all its flights to or from Andalusia through November 8: they will cost a maximum of 99 euros one way in economy class and a maximum of 149 euros in business class.
The company has also added three extra flights (two round trips to Málaga and one round trip to Seville) to its regular schedule. It will also use higher-capacity aircraft, increasing the number of available seats by 20%. Additionally, Iberia has set up a phone number (900 111 500) for passengers who were scheduled to fly but were unable to board their flight due to the accident, so they can make changes to their tickets.
Air Europa has also added an extra flight to Málaga and Seville, and could add more depending on demand, according to EFE.
The Avant service as an alternative to Ciudad and Puertollano
Although Renfe has not yet announced an alternative transportation plan for Andalusia, it has already launched an Avant service between Madrid, Ciudad Real, and Puertollano via conventional rail, with a longer travel time (about two and a half hours); however, Renfe recommends against traveling unless it is absolutely necessary.
To travel from Ciudad Real to Puertollano, trains do run on the high-speed line, and the trip takes 15 minutes. This means that to get from Madrid to Puertollano, you must transfer in Ciudad Real, with the exception of two direct trains: the 8:00 p.m. train from Madrid and the 4:45 a.m. train from Puertollano.
The departure times for trains in both directions (Madrid–Ciudad Real–Puertollano and Puertollano–Ciudad Real–Madrid) are detailed in this press release issued by the public operator. The press release also indicates whether or not a transfer is required on each route.