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More than a month after direct high-speed rail services between Málaga and Madrid were halted, criticism is mounting over the pace of repairs, with warnings that the disruption is already costing the province hundreds of millions of euros.

 

Speaking during a visit to Álora, Popular Party (PP) deputy for Málaga Elías Bendodo accused the Spanish Government of reacting too slowly to the infrastructure failure that has left the Costa del Sol without a direct AVE connection to the capital.

 

The current disruption dates back to Saturday January 18, when an accident near Adamuz first affected the line. Matters worsened on Tuesday February 4, when a five-metre retaining wall collapsed near Álora, extending the closure of the high-speed route between Málaga and Madrid.

 

The interruption to the AVE service has already had a significant impact on the region’s economy and tourism sector. The disruption was later confirmed to be lasting longer than initially expected, with services not due to return until later in March.

 

Bendodo said the continued delay is now taking a heavy toll. “This situation continues to cause millions of euros in losses for the province,” he warned.

 

He criticised what he described as a lack of urgency from the central government and the Ministry of Transport, led by Óscar Puente. “The Spanish Government, and the Ministry of Óscar Puente in particular, did not react in time and it was not until three weeks later that they ordered the work to be intensified,” he said.

 

According to Bendodo, the tourism sector is already feeling the impact in the run-up to Easter, traditionally one of the busiest periods of the year on the Costa del Sol. Industry figures are now talking about losses exceeding €200 million, he said.

 

“The delay in this project is causing brutal damage to the tourism sector of Málaga, the Costa del Sol and Andalucía,” Bendodo stated, adding that the ongoing disruption is also harming the province’s wider economy and reputation.

 

“This isolation is seriously damaging the reputation of Málaga and its entire provincial economy,” he said, noting that many commuters also rely on the train for daily travel between cities.

The PP politician called on the government of Pedro Sánchez to accelerate the works and restore normal services as quickly as possible. He also urged Madrid to adopt a broader investment strategy for Spain’s rail network.

 

“It is imperative that the service returns to full normality as soon as possible, with full guarantees for passengers and crews,” he said. “The Government of Spain must take mobility seriously and ensure proper investment to maintain and modernise railway infrastructure.”

 

 

Image: wikicommons