The AVE between Barcelona and Madrid will recover part of its 'normality' next week

The high-speed service on the Barcelona-Madrid line will recover part of its normality at the "beginning" of next week. For now, double-track traffic on the 25-kilometer stretch near Ricla (Zaragoza), which has suffered significant damage since last October 12, when an AVE locomotive caught fire and caused traffic interruptions that lasted hours. The havoc continues today.

"The necessary work is being carried out to remove the affected train, part of the convoy has been removed, but the tractor cabin remains affected by the incident," explained Adif's spokesperson in Catalonia, Antonio Carmona, in statements reported by Efe later in his appearance this Wednesday from the Sants Station in Barcelona. Carmona has predicted that starting next week (complete) circulation will be opened on the closed road.

Because until now, Adif allowed circulation but with speed limitations on the section of single track affected (with a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour) and a train offer adapted to the capacity of the track (which had gone from double to single). All of this has forced the three operators - Renfe, Ouigo and Iryio - to reorganize the service by eliminating trains and adapting those that were circulating.

It has detailed that this affected section is about 25 kilometers, so the trains suffer delays of between 10-15 minutes and "other effects may occur" in the service, which are communicated by the three operators, adds Adif.

Since this Wednesday, as Carmona explained, the maximum speed on this affected section has been able to rise to 160 kilometers per hour, which "gives more room" to reschedule the operators' train offerings. Likewise, it has apologized to the passengers affected by this incident.

The causes of the fire are still being investigated, Carmona explained: "The necessary work is being carried out to remove the affected train, part of the convoy has been removed, but the tractor cabin remains affected by the incident." The technicians are carrying out the work to remove the locomotive during the night because, due to their complexity, they are incompatible with the circulation of trains.

Specifically, part of the cabin has to be de-ballooned and, when it is finished, it will have to be moved with a crane. "Once the affected locomotive is removed, Adif will work to repair the affected infrastructure - such as the catenary, among other elements - and we can work on a forecast that at the beginning of next week it will be possible to circulate on two tracks."