Lorraine Williamson
Costa del Sol rail disruption is no longer a niche transport headache. It is now a wider problem for Málaga’s tourism economy, with hoteliers warning of cancellations and lost confidence just as the city heads into the Málaga Film Festival and the run-up to Semana Santa.
The immediate issue is simple: there is still no normal, direct high-speed link between Madrid and Málaga for rival operators, after infrastructure problems near Álora left the corridor partially blocked. The knock-on effects are anything but simple.
What’s actually happening on the Málaga–Madrid route
After a landslide near Álora damaged the line earlier this month, operators including Ouigo and Iryo have had to suspend or reduce services on the Madrid–Málaga high-speed corridor. In practice, that has meant fewer direct options, more complicated journeys, and a heavier reliance on replacement plans.
The current expectation being reported is that full normality will not return until at least 23 March 2026. That puts the disruption uncomfortably close to major travel dates and events that the Costa del Sol depends on.
Why Málaga’s tourism sector is worried
Hotel and tourism leaders on the Costa del Sol argue the damage goes beyond a few missed trains. They fear that travellers will simply switch destinations if the journey becomes uncertain, especially for shorter breaks and domestic trips where high-speed rail is meant to be the easy choice.
There are also concerns about confusion. When services are reshuffled into combinations of train and bus, many travellers do not feel they are buying what they intended to buy in the first place. That perception matters in a competitive market.
The broader impact on jobs and confidence
This is also landing on operators, not only passengers. Iryo has reported temporary workforce measures linked to the suspension period, underlining how quickly disruption turns into a cost and staffing issue.
For Málaga, it feeds a wider question: what does “high speed” mean if reliability is not there when demand peaks? Tourism and business groups are pushing for clearer communication and a more visible contingency plan, rather than fragmented updates.
Costa del Sol rail disruption: tourism counts a €109m hit as AVE return nears
What travellers can do right now?
If you’re travelling to or from Málaga in the coming weeks, the practical advice is to double-check the operator you planned to use and confirm whether the trip is direct or involves a replacement leg. It is also worth building in extra time for connections, particularly if your plan involves an event start time, flight connection, or same-day return.
What happens next for the Costa del Sol
If services genuinely return to normal by 23 March, the disruption may fade into an unpleasant winter memory. If timelines slip, it becomes something else entirely: a direct threat to Málaga’s early-season momentum, and a warning sign for how fragile “easy travel” can be when infrastructure takes a hit.