Railway circulation between Atocha and Recoletos in Madrid resumed after a period of disruption this Sunday, following work carried out by the rail infrastructure operator and the rail company. Renfe announced the restoration in a statement issued by the two organizations, noting that normal service would return on the Cercanías lines and on many long-distance routes originating or terminating in Alcázar de San Juan, Jaén, Almería or Extremadura. The action involved around 60 Renfe and Adif employees, with additional staff from the information and customer service teams at Cercanías de Madrid also deployed to assist travelers.
The successful re-establishment of circulation on the Atocha–Recoletos segment paves the way for the regular operation of Cercanías services, and also supports Medium and Long Distance trains that connect with the affected areas. Renfe underscored its commitment to delivering timely guidance to passengers through every available communication channel during the service adjustment period.
Three derailments
Oscar Puente, the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, posted a public update on social media explaining the situation. The update drew on a report produced by ADIF detailing the incidents that occurred in the Atocha–Recoletos tunnel, including a Talgo derailment on 26 November and two commuter train derailments on 5 and 8 December.
The route layout was assessed as accurate by ADIF, with care measures deemed appropriate. The report notes that the measures implemented produced the expected results and that no factors were found that could justify the derailments beyond what had already been identified.
The communication from ADIF stresses that the safety and operational protocols were thoroughly reviewed and that ongoing examinations will continue to ensure reliability and passenger confidence across the Madrid rail network. In addition to the technical findings, the report reiterates the importance of clear information channels to keep travelers informed during service changes and disruptions, a priority reflected in Renfe’s recent actions to bolster passenger support across all contact points.