High-speed train service between Madrid and Valencia is set to resume after weeks of disruption caused by torrential rains and severe flooding from the recent DANA storm.
The Spanish train operators Renfe and Ouigo have already started selling tickets for the newly reopened route. Renfe will resume its daily services on Thursday, November 14, while Ouigo will restart on Friday, November 15.
The line has been closed since October 29, when the storm devastated Valencia, leading to severe damage to rail infrastructure. The intense rainfall and subsequent flooding left parts of the high-speed line between Madrid and Valencia heavily affected, including the “disappearance” of a 1.2-kilometer stretch of track near Chiva and a flooded two-kilometer tunnel in Torrent.
According to Oscar Puente, the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, the usual service will resume on schedule thanks to the continuous efforts of Adif workers, who have been laboring in three shifts to repair and reconstruct the damaged sections of the track.
In an extraordinary recovery effort, Adif crews have managed to complete the repairs within two weeks, slightly ahead of the initial estimate of two to three weeks. Puente shared frequent updates on social media, praising the teams who worked tirelessly to make the line operational again. With these repairs complete, high-speed trains will once again connect Madrid and Valencia, bringing relief to travelers who rely on this important route.
In addition to the high-speed rail restoration, other train services in the Valencia region have resumed following the storm. The Euromed line between Valencia and Barcelona was reopened on November 3, following the storm’s subsidence in Castellón province. Medium-distance trains between Valencia and Castellón, Vinaròs, and Zaragoza are also back in operation. Additionally, Cercanías commuter lines C-5 and C-6, which serve northern routes, were less affected and quickly resumed operations after brief delays.
However, some parts of the region’s rail network have sustained more severe damage. The Cercanías C-3 line, which connects Valencia with several towns in the province’s interior, was hit particularly hard by the flooding and will require extensive repairs. According to Puente, certain sections of this line may take several months or even up to a year to fully restore.
Meanwhile, repairs to other key commuter lines, such as C-1 and C-2, are progressing, with a target reopening date set for December 22. In addition to rail repairs, work on road infrastructure damaged by the storm is also underway. A temporary diversion of the A-7 has been put in place to restore its connection with the A-3 at Quart de Poblet, with ongoing efforts to replace a destroyed viaduct. Progress continues on the N-330 and N-332 roads, both of which were impacted by the severe flooding.
With the reopening of the Madrid-Valencia high-speed rail line, travelers can once again rely on convenient, fast transport between these two major cities. The swift reconstruction efforts highlight the resilience of Spain’s transportation infrastructure and the dedication of the teams working to restore normalcy for travelers and commuters.
