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Date Published: 29/04/2025

Train chaos after blackout: Renfe offers free refunds and exchanges

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Services resume in phases across Spain after mass power cut leaves rail network in disarray

Train chaos after blackout: Renfe offers free refunds and exchanges

Renfe has confirmed that passengers affected by Monday’s major power outage can now request a full refund or exchange for their tickets at no extra cost. The disruption brought much of the Spanish rail network to a standstill, stranding travellers across the country.

In a statement released Tuesday morning , Renfe said: “Passengers who no longer wish to travel can apply for a free ticket exchange or refund through our usual sales channels. Those who still wish to travel should head to their departure stations, where they may be able to take up available seats as services gradually resume.”

Rail traffic is now returning in stages, but many parts of the country are still seeing heavy disruption. The widespread blackout, which began just after midday on Monday 28 April, left stations overcrowded and entire routes suspended.

Where trains are running again

Some areas have seen service restored. In the north, Asturias and Cantabria resumed operations early Tuesday. In Madrid, around half of all Cercanías trains are now running, although line C5 is only operating between Humanes and Atocha, with no service between Pinto and Aranjuez or from Guadalajara to Alcalá de Henares.

Also of interest: Cyberattack, Net Zero or freak weather accident? The cause of Spain’s mystery power outage is still not clear

In Valencia, lines C2 (Valencia-Xàtiva) and C6 are running as normal, but line C1 remains suspended between Silla and Gandía.

Long-distance and high-speed services have resumed on key routes including:

Madrid to Barcelona
Madrid to Valencia, Murcia and Alicante
Madrid to Algeciras
Madrid to Asturias and Santander
Madrid to the Basque Country
Madrid to Córdoba and Seville

The Madrid-Pamplona route is back in service, although with some delays.

Where disruption continues

There is still no Cercanías service at all in Alicante, Zaragoza, Cádiz, Seville, Málaga, Bilbao or San Sebastián. Rodalies trains in Catalonia remain fully suspended due to ongoing safety concerns. Medium-distance services including Avant trains in Andalusia and Extremadura are also not operating. High-speed routes from Madrid to Huelva, Badajoz, Galicia, Salamanca, Logroño, and the Euromed line between Barcelona and Alicante remain out of service.

Many travellers were forced to spend the night at stations or in temporary shelters, such as the Ifeza fairground in Zamora. The Red Cross has been offering support at several locations to help meet passengers’ basic needs.

More updates are expected, as authorities continue efforts to restore full service across the network.

Now read: Milk? Yoghurts? Meat? Here’s the food you should throw away after the blackout

Image: Antonio Garcia Prats/Pexels

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