They were left standing, disoriented, and with no clear response from anyone in charge. For four hours they endured on a 400-passenger commuter train where the aisles were crowded and the atmosphere grew tenser with every passing minute.
In a vivid account, a Pamplona resident recalls the return journey that began with a 9:05 a.m. departure on Sunday. The train was scheduled to reach Pamplona at 1:05 p.m. before continuing toward Oviedo, but the trip stretched far beyond expectations, and the Navarre capital was finally reached around 4:20 p.m. A young man was later arrested during the journey for threats and disruption of public order, highlighting how quickly the situation escalated.
The passenger describes a breakdown of the catenary before Zaragoza that left everyone shaken. Doors remained shut for two hours, air conditioning failed, and lights flickered out, amplifying the fear and discomfort. The lack of a formal emergency protocol and scarce information, along with a perceived mismanagement of the crisis, deepened the frustration felt by travelers.
Upon arriving at Delicias station, passengers from Navarra were instructed to disembark and transfer to another platform where a different train would supposedly take them to their destination. There was, however, no warning that the Cercanías cars were already at capacity, leaving many travelers stranded and uneasy about the next steps.
As the crowd swelled, some travelers helped others out of sheer solidarity. The scene grew chaotic, and several people noticed a girl nearby who became overwhelmed and suffered an anxiety attack. In another part of the car, a confrontation unfolded as a young man shouted insults, claiming affiliation with a hostile group, while a woman sought help from a security guard. A troubling moment involved a boy grabbing a handrail and moving him into close proximity with two young women, creating a tense and uncomfortable atmosphere.
During the worst of the disruption, the girl facing anxiety collapsed. Medical personnel arrived promptly, and the injured were accommodated in the same car while others watched to ensure their safety. The Civil Guard was alerted, and the responding officer moved to restrain the aggressor, who locked himself in a bathroom until several officers could intervene. The offender was escorted away after an hour, and the young woman who had been cared for began to recover as the immediate danger subsided.
After this ordeal, the journey resumed toward Pamplona, where the scene at the end of the disembarkation left a lingering unease among travelers. Large crowds gathered at each stop, making it difficult for passengers to exit or plan their next steps. The sheer volume of people waiting for delayed trains created a sense of chaos, turning what should have been a routine ride into a harrowing and exhausting experience. The overall impression from the day was that it had been a wild ride, marked by disruption, fear, and a long road to normalcy for all involved.
Note: This account consolidates firsthand observations and reported incidents from the journey, and it aims to reflect the emotions and experiences of the passengers during the event.