Two fires near the tracks in Vallecas-Vicálvaro and Pozuelo-Las Rozas forced the suspension of services on four Cercanías lines for just over an hour. Service resumed after 18:45.
Cercanías Madrid passengers experienced a troubled afternoon on Monday after two fires near the tracks forced the suspension of services on four lines. The first fire, detected around 17:00 between the Vallecas and Vicálvaro stations, caused the interruption of services on lines C-2, C-7, and C-8, which connect municipalities such as Alcalá de Henares, Coslada, and Guadalajara with the capital.
Fire in Vallecas-Vicálvaro: disruptions and shuttle services
The fire in the Vallecas area forced Adif to suspend the electrical supply in the affected section. Trains coming from Guadalajara had to be diverted via the O'Donnell track to Chamartín, while Renfe activated a shuttle train service between Coslada and Alcalá de Henares, as well as between Atocha and Vallecas, to ensure passenger mobility. This measure affected hundreds of passengers waiting on the platforms, especially during peak hours.
According to sources from the operator, the electrical supply was restored at 18:45, at which point services returned to normal. Residents of Vicálvaro and Vallecas, who use these lines daily to commute to the centre, experienced delays of up to an hour. A spokesperson for Adif explained that the priority was to ensure the safety of passengers and emergency personnel working to extinguish the fire.
Second fire between Pozuelo and Las Rozas
Just twenty minutes later, a second fire broke out between the Pozuelo and Las Rozas stations in the western metropolitan area. In this case, services were suspended on lines C-7 and C-10 between El Barrial and Pozuelo, although it was not necessary to cut the electrical supply. Firefighters worked to extinguish the fire while trains remained halted, causing delays of around an hour.
Residents of Pozuelo de Alarcón, Las Rozas, and Majadahonda, who use these lines to reach Príncipe Pío or Chamartín, found themselves trapped in the Cercanías network. Renfe advised passengers to check information panels and mobile apps before leaving home. The incident was resolved after 18:30, according to company sources.
A third issue in the Sol and Recoletos tunnel
To add to the complicated afternoon, a train was halted in the Sol tunnel, causing delays on the line that crosses central Madrid. The train, which initially stopped at Sol station, was relocated to Nuevos Ministerios, but the incident caused delays of between eight and fifteen minutes on other trains. Adif stated that the malfunction was mechanical and was resolved without further consequences.
Regular users of the Cercanías network, who already suffer frequent delays due to works and breakdowns, expressed their resignation.
"It's a constant chaos. There's a new incident every week, always during peak hours," commented a passenger at Atocha station.Although the incidents were resolved in just over an hour, the day highlighted that the Cercanías network remains vulnerable to any unforeseen events.
For residents of the affected municipalities, such as Alcalá de Henares, Coslada, Pozuelo, or Las Rozas, the recommendation is clear: stay alert to the official channels of Renfe and Adif, and consider alternative transport options, such as intercity buses, in case of new incidents. The Community of Madrid announced that it will investigate the causes of the fires, which may be related to dry vegetation along the tracks.
