Lorraine Williamson
The Madrid-Seville AVE reopening is finally in sight. Spain’s transport minister Óscar Puente says the high-speed line linking Madrid with Andalucía could restart “tomorrow or the day after” — effectively Tuesday or Wednesday — almost a month after the Adamuz crash forced the corridor to close.
The first sign of normality is already visible to travellers. Renfe, Ouigo and Iryo have restarted ticket sales for through journeys from Tuesday, even as final confirmation of the reopening is awaited.
Why it took so long
Repairs began later than many passengers expected. According to El País, work could not start until 28 January, once investigators had gathered evidence on site and judicial authorisation was in place. The recent run of storms in Andalucía also slowed progress, because some operations cannot be carried out safely in heavy rain.
The ongoing official investigation is being handled by Spain’s rail accident investigation commission (CIAF), which has a live file open on the Adamuz incident.
What travellers should expect in the first days back
For much of the closure, Renfe was the only operator running an alternative plan, using buses between Villanueva de Córdoba and Córdoba capital to connect with AVE services to Sevilla. That emergency arrangement is expected to stand down once the line is cleared for full use.
If you are travelling this week, the practical advice is simple. Check your operator’s app before leaving for the station, because early services may be subject to last-minute operational updates as the corridor returns to normal capacity.
Renfe also reminds affected passengers that refunds and ticket changes are available under its alternative transport plan rules, which have applied during the interruption.
Why this matters beyond one route
This is one of Spain’s busiest long-distance corridors, and the disruption has rippled into timetables, tourism and business travel for weeks. A reopening does not just restore a timetable. It restores confidence — and, for many travellers, a sense that the winter of storms and shutdowns might finally be easing.