High-speed rail services between Madrid and Seville are expected to resume within 10 days of a judge authorizing reconstruction work at Urda, in Toledo, Transport Minister Óscar Puente said on Tuesday. Trains will return gradually, with fewer services until the new signalling system is installed and safety checks are complete.
The government has requested permission from the judge overseeing the case to begin the work. The request follows the removal of the train cars and railway material left on the tracks after the collision on October 28. The damaged section is slightly more than 40 metres long, but repairs will cover about 400 metres as a safety measure, Puente said.
The line will not immediately return to its usual timetable. Reduced frequencies will remain until the scheduled deployment of the ERTMS-2 signalling system, which is replacing the older LZB system, is completed and the Spanish Railway Safety Agency finishes an extraordinary safety review. The precautionary reduction will affect the Madrid–Seville route only, with no changes to the rest of the high-speed network.
The number of trains, their frequency and any temporary speed restrictions have not yet been specified. Renfe said those operational and technical decisions are Adif’s responsibility, while Adif said details would be provided in the coming days.
Renfe will continue operating replacement buses between Madrid, Ciudad Real and Puertollano in both directions while work on the infrastructure continues. The current service has eight daily departures from Madrid and seven from Puertollano, with 100 seats per journey. The trip takes about two and a half hours to Ciudad Real, with an additional half-hour to Puertollano.
Renfe is also maintaining free changes and cancellations for passengers affected by the disruption. Information on the alternative transport plan is available through the company’s website, at stations and via its customer service line. The Transport Ministry has temporarily capped prices for alternative transport, including bus and air tickets, to prevent excessive increases during the disruption.
Sources: El País Economía.