A fire erupted in the rear cab of an AVE high-speed train near Ricla, Zaragoza province, at approximately 16:05 on 12 October 2026. The affected train, which departed Madrid Puerta de Atocha at 14:27 heading to Figueres, was evacuated without injury to its 283 passengers. The incident immediately interrupted the Madrid-Barcelona high-speed rail corridor, disrupting one of Spain’s busiest routes.
Following the fire, train operations between Ricla and Plasencia de Jalón have been restricted to a single track. Rail traffic in this section runs under a temporary speed limit of 80 km/h, significantly reducing line capacity. This arrangement has caused
delays and extended journey times as trains in opposite directions share the same track.
According to Renfe, the state-owned operator managing AVE services, a total of 33 trains and 12,979 passengers have been affected by the disruption. Of these, 18 trains were unable to depart their origin stations, while 14 trains were stranded at intermediate stops along the route. The company reorganized train operations, including coupling services, to maximize capacity during the disruption.
Service Restoration and Infrastructure Status
Railway infrastructure manager Adif reported that firefighters completed their work and railway personnel inspected the affected section following the fire. After these safety checks, Adif authorized the
gradual restoration of train movements. However, full two-track service has not yet resumed due to the presence of the damaged train, which remains to be removed. This pending removal continues to necessitate single-track use and temporary speed restrictions along the section.
Passenger Impact and Travel Advice
The delays have impacted passenger experience, with waits exceeding two hours recorded at Barcelona Sants station on 13 October. Overcrowding and extended queue times have been reported. Renfe is offering free ticket changes and refunds to all affected passengers. Travelers are advised to check individual train operator updates and be prepared for longer travel times, particularly if connecting to
flights at Madrid or Barcelona.
Published departure times may not accurately reflect actual train movements due to the phased service resumption. Renfe expected trains held at origin stations to begin departing again by approximately 23:00 on 12 October, though no timetable is yet available for restoring full normal operations.
Multiple Operators Serve Affected Corridor
Besides Renfe, other operators such as Ouigo and iryo also run services on the Madrid-Barcelona high-speed corridor. Passenger advisories stress the importance of consulting the relevant operator to confirm travel information. The disruption is limited to the section near Ricla and the temporary service restrictions only affect train movements between Ricla
and Plasencia de Jalón.
Adif recommends passengers seek updates from their train companies rather than relying solely on general line announcements, as service restoration is still in progress and conditions may change rapidly.
Official Statements and Known Information
Renfe confirmed that the fire incident caused cancellation of afternoon departures and held multiple trains at stations. Adif authorized the slow resumption of service after verifying infrastructure integrity post-fire and fire extinguishing operations. The exact cause of the fire in the train’s rear cab remains under investigation.
Removal of the affected train and repairs to restore two-track operation have not been scheduled publicly. Until these actions occur,
single-track use and speed limits will continue to hinder normal journey times.
