The Madrid–Malaga AVE high-speed line will remain disrupted for weeks longer than planned, with Spain’s rail infrastructure manager Adif confirming that direct services will not resume before the last week of April.
The closure is extending journey times and clouding tourism expectations on the Costa del Sol ahead of Semana Santa (Holy Week).
What has happened on the Madrid–Malaga AVE line?
The interruption affects the high-speed section of the corridor near Álora, in Malaga province.
- The line has been cut on this stretch since early February after severe weather damaged the infrastructure.
- Initial reopening targets of 2 February, 7 February and then 23 March have all been missed.
- The last week of April is now the earliest realistic date for restoring direct high-speed services between Madrid and Malaga.
Current Madrid–Malaga travel options
Bus–train transfers on the AVE corridor
While the Álora section is out of service, passengers travelling between Madrid and Malaga use a combined bus–train operation.
High-speed trains run between Madrid and Antequera–Santa Ana, while buses cover the missing leg between Antequera–Santa Ana and Malaga.
What to expect once direct AVE services resume
Adif’s current plan for the corridor includes:
- Direct AVE traffic resuming no earlier than the last week of April, subject to ongoing reviews and weather.
- Initial running on a single track with speed restrictions over a short stretch at Álora.
- A return to double-track running around June, once most of the demolition and slope work is complete.
Tourism and economic impact on Malaga and the Costa del Sol
The prolonged disruption comes at a sensitive moment for Malaga’s tourism industry:
- The Málaga Film Festival, which has just finished, typically draws visitors and film professionals who rely on the AVE from Madrid.
- Semana Santa is one of the busiest times of year for hotels and rentals in Malaga and along the Costa del Sol.
Business groups report that longer and less predictable journeys are deterring some travellers and complicating advance bookings,
Madrid–Malaga AVE timeline
Date / period | Event |
|---|---|
18 January | Initial issues and partial service disruptions on the Madrid–Malaga corridor. |
4–5 February | Intense storms over Andalusia trigger a landslide and collapse of a 300‑metre retaining wall, cutting the high-speed section. |
Early February | AVE services switch to a combined bus–train operation via Antequera–Santa Ana. |
26 February | 24‑hour repair works begin. |
23 March | Initial target for partial reopening with one track is abandoned after engineers determine that remaining walls do not meet safety thresholds. |
Last week of April (provisional) | New earliest reference point for restoring direct AVE traffic, subject to ongoing reviews. |
Around June (indicative) | Expected point at which both tracks could be reopened in the Álora area following major demolition and slope works. |
End of 2026 | Current horizon for full structural repair, including replacement of the damaged track apparatus and a return to standard operation. |
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