The high-speed connection between Madrid and Barcelona will continue to register incidents during this Wednesday. Although the work to restore normality is progressing, there is still no fixed date to declare it finished, after rail traffic was interrupted on Monday afternoon due to a fire in the tail cabin of an AVE covering the route Madrid Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes-Figueres.
Renfe has explained that the efforts to remove the train affected by the fire are ongoing, as well as the repair tasks for the damaged infrastructure. However, the operator has avoided specifying the exact day when these actions will conclude, beyond indicating that it will be in the coming days.
"This is a highly complex technical operation, both due to the need to move specialized auxiliary equipment to the incident point and the obligation to coordinate these actions with the maintenance of the circulation of commercial services," states the statement released by Renfe yesterday afternoon.
Thus, rail operations on this line will continue today conditioned by the consequences of Monday's fire, with a device similar to that applied during the previous day to adjust the supply of seats to the existing capacity restrictions.
The company opted yesterday to operate in double composition —increasing the capacity of each train— in order to preserve the maximum number of frequencies possible and make the most of the available seats. This measure also involved schedule modifications and the relocation of numerous travelers to other trains.
Renfe has begun to inform affected passengers of the expected circulation conditions for this Wednesday and will continue to update the information based on how both the works and the service evolve.
IRYO CANCELS FOUR TRAINS
Iryo has canceled four commercial services on the high-speed route Madrid-Barcelona for this Wednesday and has organized the relocation of users to other trains of its own.
Specifically, it has canceled trains 6081, 6320, 6161, and 6190, whose passengers will be transferred to services 6091, 6281, 6130, 6014, 6151, 6171, and 6200.
Affected travelers are receiving information through the operator's usual channels and, if they do not accept the proposed alternative, they may request a ticket change or its cancellation with a full refund of the amount.
OUIGO ALSO ALTERED ITS TRANSPORT PLAN FOR TODAY
Ouigo has also adjusted its transport plan for this Wednesday on the high-speed line Madrid-Barcelona.
One of the affected services is Ouigo 6500, departing from Barcelona Sants at 10:40 hours, whose customers will be relocated to the train that departs at 13:50 hours and arrives at Madrid Puerta de Atocha at 16:52 hours.
Likewise, Ouigo 6570, which was making the same route departing at 17:40 hours, will be rescheduled to the service planned for 20:20 hours, arriving at 23:48 hours.
The company has stated that all affected passengers have been notified as early as possible and that they have been offered a free change or full refund of the ticket, according to their preference.
THE BURNED TRAIN HAD ALL THE INSPECTIONS
Renfe has indicated that, for the moment, the causes of the fire have not been determined and it is conducting an internal investigation to clarify it. At the same time, it has certified that the train was up to date with all the interventions planned in the maintenance plan in force at the time of the incident.
The unit had undergone 24 preventive maintenance operations of different scopes since May 26, 2026, including periodic inspections and technical reviews included in the maintenance plan of the series.
"Therefore, it can be concluded that the unit had all the scheduled maintenance interventions according to the procedures established by Renfe," the operator has emphasized.
ALMOST 13,000 AFFECTED TRAVELERS
The interruption of rail traffic caused by the fire impacted 33 trains and a total of 12,979 passengers, while the 283 occupants of the damaged train were evacuated without any personal injuries reported.
Renfe had to send more than 50,000 communications to customers and users to inform them of service disruptions, operational adjustments, available travel alternatives, and options for ticket changes or refunds.