The Alvia Madrid-Badajoz suffered an air conditioning system failure on Monday as it passed through Talavera de la Reina, forcing the train to stop and passengers to be transferred by bus. This is the second serious incident on the line in less than 48 hours.
A new technical failure has once again left travellers of the Alvia connecting Madrid with Badajoz stranded. The train, which departed from Chamartín station at 16:38, was forced to stop in Talavera de la Reina when the air conditioning system stopped working, according to Renfe.
The company immediately activated an alternative plan: passengers continuing their journey to Oropesa, Navalmoral de la Mata and Monfragüe were transferred by bus, while the rest would be reallocated to the next train heading to Badajoz. The scheduled arrival time of 21:17 was discarded.
Second Incident in 48 Hours on the Line to Extremadura
This is the second serious setback suffered by the Alvia Madrid-Badajoz in just two days. On Saturday, another train on the same line experienced an issue in Oropesa (Toledo) that forced passengers from nine carriages to disembark and change trains. The CCOO union had already reported last week that the cooling systems of the S730 series trains, the most modern covering the route, fail repeatedly when outside temperatures exceed 35 or 36 degrees.
Renfe acknowledged that, in extreme circumstances, the equipment activates automatic protection mechanisms to prevent greater breakdowns, but assured that the trains undergo regular inspections and are designed to withstand temperatures between -10 and 40 degrees. However, on Monday, the thermometer in Talavera hovered around 30 degrees, far from the heatwave of previous days.
Workers and Passengers at Their Limit: Dizziness and Anxiety Attacks
The Secretary of Mobility of CCOO in Extremadura, Miguel Fuentes, described the situation as “systematic” and stated that it “harms the health of users and the workers themselves.” Fuentes pointed out that the problem is not isolated, but has been recurring every summer for years, and that the union is even considering requesting the suspension of service on days of extreme heat, as is already done in other European countries.
For her part, the head of Renfe Operadora in Extremadura, Mónica Rodríguez, explained that the train staff experiences the situation with “great concern.” “We are the ones who receive the complaints, and in moments of great tension, we fear for our physical integrity. We also receive insults and verbal aggression, which is the least of it because we understand that passengers react this way,” she recounted. According to Rodríguez, passengers have suffered from dizziness, headaches, nervousness and anxiety attacks due to the heat inside the carriage.
The union has proposed several solutions: replacing the air conditioning units with other models that work in other trains, substituting the Alvia with regional R599 trains (though the journey would be longer), selling half of the tickets to be able to reallocate passengers to air-conditioned carriages, or having buses ready for emergencies. Fuentes announced that CCOO will report the incidents to the Labour Inspectorate.
For residents of the Community of Madrid using this line, the recommendation is clear: if travelling during hot hours, it is advisable to bring water, anticipate possible delays, and check the service status before departing. Renfe assures that it is working on a technical solution, but in the meantime, the Alvia Madrid-Badajoz remains a thermal roulette.
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