Passengers travelling from Málaga to Madrid faced a scramble for alternatives on Wednesday after a collision between AVE and Iryo trains in the province of Toledo led to the cancellation of high-speed services between the cities.
At María Zambrano station, people with tickets began looking for other ways to continue their journeys. Queues formed at car-hire companies inside the Vialia building, next to the station. The reported shortage of available seats on buses and planes further limited options for those trying to reach Madrid.
The disruption affected passengers whose rail journeys were cancelled, leaving them to make new travel arrangements. For some, hiring a car was one of the few options they could find at short notice.
One passenger told Sur in English that Europcar had quoted €150 to collect a car in Málaga and return it in Madrid, at Atocha. The report did not specify the rental terms or whether that price was typical.
Another passenger said she had managed to hire a car to travel to Madrid with her husband and their ten-month-old baby. Their experience illustrates the practical challenge for families and others needing to travel while rail services were suspended.
The collision occurred in Urda, Toledo province, on Wednesday, according to the discovery report. It did not provide a confirmed timetable for the resumption of high-speed trains or details of replacement transport.
Passengers affected by the cancellations should check directly with their transport provider for current service information and rebooking options. The available reports do not say when the Málaga–Madrid rail connection will return to normal.