On October 12, 2026, a fire broke out in the rear cab of an AVE train near Ricla in Zaragoza on the Madrid-Barcelona high-speed rail line. The fire was detected around 16:05 on a train that had departed Madrid Puerta de Atocha at 14:27 bound for Figueres. All 283 passengers aboard were evacuated safely with no injuries reported.
Service Disruptions and Restrictions
The incident forced the closure of one track between Ricla and Plasencia de Jalón, west of Zaragoza, causing operations to run on a single track late into October 12 and beyond. This restriction limited capacity as trains in both directions had to
share the single track, preventing simultaneous independent traffic. A temporary speed limit of 80 km/h was imposed on this section.
According to Renfe, 33 trains were affected by the fire disruption, impacting 12,979 passengers. Among these, 18 trains could not depart from their origin stations, while 14 were held at stations along the route. Some services were reorganized by coupling trains and adjusting schedules to optimize available capacity during repairs.
Passenger Impact and Operator Response
Delays extended on October 13, with some trains running up to an hour behind schedule. Renfe offered passengers free ticket changes and refunds for journeys affected by the fire. Travelers
were advised to allow additional time for connections and monitor service updates as delays continued.
Crowding and longer waiting times were reported at major stations such as Barcelona Sants due to the reduced capacity and slower train movements on the high-speed corridor.
Infrastructure and Official Statements
Firefighters completed extinguishing the blaze on October 12, after which railway personnel inspected the infrastructure before gradually authorizing restoration of train movements. Adif, the railway infrastructure manager, confirmed that full two-track operations had not resumed as the damaged train remained on the track.
Adif did not specify a timeline for the removal of the affected train or a
return to normal operations. Renfe acknowledged ongoing cancellations and suspensions along the route and urged passengers to consult their ticket operator for latest information and assistance.
Route Importance and Investigation
The Madrid-Barcelona high-speed rail line is a major corridor for domestic and international travelers served by operators including Renfe, Ouigo, and iryo. The fire disruption impacted multiple operators running on this busy route.
Renfe has opened an investigation into the cause of the fire, which remains unknown. Operations continue under restrictions while repairs and train removal efforts proceed, with no indication when full service will be restored.
