A forest fire in the vicinity of Mejorada del Campo has forced Renfe to suspend services on the stretch between this town and Alcalá de Henares, affecting high-speed Madrid-Barcelona trains and the CIVIS Guadalajara-Chamartín line.
This Wednesday has been disrupted in the Henares Corridor by a forest fire that has impacted the railway infrastructure. At around 14:25, Renfe reported the suspension of services between Mejorada del Campo and Alcalá de Henares due to the proximity of the flames to the track, a risk that has necessitated the halt of both Cercanías and high-speed trains.
According to Renfe sources, the fire is unrelated to railway operations, but its proximity to the infrastructure has forced a precautionary interruption. The company has communicated via its account on X that the high-speed Madrid-Barcelona trains operating on that stretch have been affected, remaining halted while awaiting the extinguishing of the fire.
The Railway Infrastructure Administrator (Adif) has confirmed the incident and added a second suspension at 14:59, this time between San Fernando de Henares and the Vicálvaro Mercancías Junction. This has specifically impacted the CIVIS trains on the Guadalajara-Chamartín line, which have been diverted via Atocha station.
Fortunately, emergency services in the Community of Madrid have reported that the situation is not of major severity and that firefighters are already working in the area to control the flames. The rapid intervention has allowed for the gradual restoration of CIVIS services by 15:40, once the fire was extinguished and the infrastructure assessed, according to Adif.
Renfe, for its part, has enabled changes and cancellations at no cost for travellers whose services may be affected. The company has indicated that high-speed passengers will be informed via SMS or email to the contact details associated with their reservation. There is still no specific forecast for the total recovery time of the service on the Mejorada del Campo-Alcalá de Henares stretch, although efforts are being made to restore normality as soon as possible.
This incident adds to a complicated day due to forest fires on the peninsula, which had already caused disruptions on other railway lines. For travellers in the Henares Corridor, the recommendation is to consult the official channels of Renfe and Adif before travelling, especially if they plan to use high-speed services to Barcelona or the CIVIS line to Guadalajara.
Residents of Mejorada del Campo and Alcalá de Henares, as well as regular users of these services, should remain alert for updates, as the evolution of the fire could prolong the disruptions. For now, firefighters continue to work in the area to prevent the flames from approaching the tracks and to ensure the safety of the infrastructure.
