The Madrid-Galicia High-Speed Line (HSL) has returned to service this afternoon after Adif confirmed that the infrastructure was in good condition and received authorisation from the firefighting services to resume traffic safely.
For seven days, the railway connection was interrupted near Orense due to the proximity of several outbreaks that forced the complete stoppage of the railway service between Madrid and Galicia since the afternoon of 14 August.
Before the total cut-off, Renfe offered the possibility of travelling in the Madrid-Zamora section by rail and continuing to Galicia by bus and taxi. On 14 August alone, 65 buses and various taxis were used to transport up to 5,000 people. It was an operation that could not be maintained afterwards.
During the rest of the days, key stations in Galicia and Madrid were kept open during the night to assist users with blankets, food, and drink. Likewise, more than 500 hotel places were offered for those who missed connections on their journey. In addition, Renfe operated special trains between Madrid and Zamora.
The impact on passengers has been considerable: it is estimated that more than 50,000 people were affected by the cancellation of 101 trains, especially on 14 and 15 August, when trains were running at full capacity.
Other lines affected by the fires
The wave of fires that is keeping several provinces in the northwest of the peninsula on tenterhooks has not only altered the Madrid-Galicia high-speed railway line. Conventional railway traffic between Monforte de Lemos and Orense also suffered intermittent cuts due to the proximity of the fire and the extinguishing work that forced brigades to move to areas near the tracks.
In the province of Zamora, some sections of the conventional line to Puebla de Sanabria were compromised, forcing Renfe to suspend medium-distance trains and replace them with road transport.
In León, smoke conditions resulting from the fires in El Bierzo caused speed restrictions on the Ponferrada-Monforte line, although in the end it was not necessary to cut traffic completely.
It has been necessary to cut it into other sections, such as between Guardo and Cistierna (metric gauge), or between Ávila and La Cañada.
As these events show, the railway network is easily damaged by big fires, especially when the flames get close enough to damage catenary, signalling posts, and embankments.
A reopening with guarantees
Adif has stressed that the reopening has only been authorised after inspecting the affected sections and confirming that neither the track nor the electrification systems were damaged. Passenger safety has been the priority throughout the process, so that only when those responsible for the extinction confirmed that there was no risk has regular circulation resumed.
With the restoration of high-speed traffic, it is expected to gradually recover normality in the commercial relations between Madrid and Galicia, one of the corridors with the highest demand during summer.