A fire near the AVE line in Córdoba forced a power cut and left a train bound for Málaga halted. Passengers were without air conditioning for over two hours during a heatwave.
A fire declared this afternoon near the AVE line in the El Montón de la Tierra area of Córdoba forced Adif to cut the electrical power and left a train bound for Málaga immobilised. Passengers, who had departed from Madrid at 16:30, were stuck at Córdoba station without air conditioning for over two hours, with temperatures reaching 36 degrees.
A train without light or air during a heatwave
The driver informed the travellers that the stop was due to the presence of firefighters very close to the track. The lack of electrical power forced the train's batteries to be turned off to save energy, which left the air conditioning system inoperative. "People were very nervous," a passenger told this newspaper. "It's 36 degrees, we're in July and in Córdoba."
Some travellers took advantage of the open doors to step out for a smoke, while others called their relatives. In the train's café, several passengers recalled what happened in Adamuz, another similar incident with extreme temperatures. "This route always has problems, even if it's now due to a fire," lamented the same source.
No forecast for departure and missed connections
The train manager explained that they did not have a specific delay, as they had to wait for authorisation from the firefighters and Civil Protection. The 52 passengers who had connections to other destinations received a cold shower: "Forget it because you're not going to make it," the conductor replied. Renfe announced that they would provide a bus for passengers heading to San Roque, Ronda, and Algeciras.
Adif confirmed that at 20:00 hours they would start supplying power, but warned that this did not imply the immediate departure of the train, as the system needed to be restarted. Finally, the fire was declared extinguished around 20:05, but the specialists responsible for restoring the power were uncontactable. "Adif workers are not at their posts," the passenger reported.
Resumption of service and alternative buses
After 20:30 hours, the driver was able to restart the train and resume movement. Passengers with connections in Antequera to San Roque and Algeciras were transported by bus. The 11 passengers who were to connect with Ronda also had an alternative service. Renfe distributed free water to those affected during the wait.
For residents of the province of Málaga travelling on this train, the experience has been a nightmare. Many of them are heading to the Costa del Sol or the Serranía de Ronda and have seen their travel plans disrupted by a fire that, although now extinguished, has highlighted the fragility of the rail service in emergency situations.
This incident adds to the recurring complaints from users of the AVE Madrid-Málaga, who report delays and lack of information on multiple occasions. The railway operator has not specified whether the affected passengers will receive compensation for the delay, which exceeded two hours.
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