Train chaos after blackout: Renfe offers free refunds and exchanges
Services resume in phases across Spain after mass power cut leaves rail network in disarray
Renfe has confirmed that passengers affected by Monday’s major power outage can now request a full refund or exchange for their tickets at no extra cost. The disruption brought much of the Spanish rail network to a standstill, stranding travellers across the country.In a statement released Tuesday morning , Renfe said: “Passengers who no longer wish to travel can apply for a free ticket exchange or refund through our usual sales channels. Those who still wish to travel should head to their departure stations, where they may be able to take up available seats as services gradually resume.”
Rail traffic is now returning in stages, but many parts of the country are still seeing heavy disruption. The widespread blackout, which began just after midday on Monday 28 April, left stations overcrowded and entire routes suspended.
Where trains are running again
Some areas have seen service restored. In the north, Asturias and Cantabria resumed operations early Tuesday. In Madrid, around half of all Cercanías trains are now running, although line C5 is only operating between Humanes and Atocha, with no service between Pinto and Aranjuez or from Guadalajara to Alcalá de Henares.
In Valencia, lines C2 (Valencia-Xàtiva) and C6 are running as normal, but line C1 remains suspended between Silla and Gandía.
Long-distance and high-speed services have resumed on key routes including:
- Madrid to Barcelona
- Madrid to Valencia, Murcia and Alicante
- Madrid to Algeciras
- Madrid to Asturias and Santander
- Madrid to the Basque Country
- Madrid to Córdoba and Seville
The Madrid-Pamplona route is back in service, although with some delays.
Where disruption continues
There is still no Cercanías service at all in Alicante, Zaragoza, Cádiz, Seville, Málaga, Bilbao or San Sebastián. Rodalies trains in Catalonia remain fully suspended due to ongoing safety concerns. Medium-distance services including Avant trains in Andalusia and Extremadura are also not operating. High-speed routes from Madrid to Huelva, Badajoz, Galicia, Salamanca, Logroño, and the Euromed line between Barcelona and Alicante remain out of service.
Many travellers were forced to spend the night at stations or in temporary shelters, such as the Ifeza fairground in Zamora. The Red Cross has been offering support at several locations to help meet passengers’ basic needs.
More updates are expected, as authorities continue efforts to restore full service across the network.
Image: Antonio Garcia Prats/Pexels
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