AVE Train Delays: Infrastructure Issue Disrupts Madrid-Barcelona Route

High-speed rail service between Madrid and Barcelona experienced significant disruptions Sunday morning following an infrastructure failure near Alcalá de Henares, according to reports from Adif, Spain’s rail infrastructure administrator.

The incident, which affected signaling systems regulating train circulation in the Alcalá de Henares area, caused delays and temporary halts for several trains along the route. Renfe, Spain’s national rail operator, informed passengers that AVE 3112, traveling from Barcelona to Madrid, was detained in Zaragoza for over 45 minutes due to the infrastructure issue. Passengers were advised to follow instructions from Renfe staff, with an estimated delay of at least 51 minutes upon reaching Madrid’s Atocha station.

Adif reported that traffic was partially restored on one track around 13:00 local time, and both tracks were operational by 13:25. Circulation is now resuming progressively, but further delays are expected as the system returns to normal. The failure specifically impacted the interlocking system at the Alcalá de Henares station, according to Adif.

Several long-distance trains, including AV06111, 03113, 00040, and 11610, were halted at various points along the line. Train 03092 was stopped in Guadalajara whereas repairs were underway. Renfe stated that while the incident was resolved, delays may continue to affect service.