After 86 days of interruption due to a landslide in Álora on February 4, the AVE service between Málaga and Madrid is resuming. This reopening, which comes after several postponements, has been criticized by the opposition, who point to the proximity of the date to the start of the Andalusian election campaign.
The railway crisis originated from a landslide of over 200,000 cubic meters of earth caused by heavy rains, rendering the infrastructure unusable. The complexity of the works, which included earth removal, ground stabilization, and the replacement of key components, has been defended by Adif.
“"The work has been tough and tremendously complex."
However, discontent in the province of Málaga has intensified due to the delay in accelerating the works, which did not operate 24 hours a day until three weeks after the incident. This delay, along with a series of failed predictions regarding the reopening date, has eroded the credibility of the authorities.
During this period, Málaga has suffered the consequences of the disconnection, which affected Holy Week, the Film Festival, and the start of the summer season. The tourism sector warned of cancellations and reputational damage to the Costa del Sol brand, with many travelers opting for flights at higher prices.
Opposition proposals to mitigate the impact, such as an air bridge with fixed prices or toll subsidies, were rejected by the ruling party. Despite this, some economic aid for affected sectors did manage to move forward.
“"Safety always comes first. We do deliver on our promises."
The service reopening on April 30 will initially operate with only one track, although it is assured that service will be “practically normal.” The exact date for the repair of the second track has not yet been specified. The timing of this reopening with the start of the election campaign has been interpreted by the opposition as a move to boost the government's image.
