Fire Forces Evacuation of 283 Passengers
A fire broke out on an AVE high-speed train travelling from Madrid to Figueres, prompting the evacuation of all 283 passengers on board. The incident occurred at approximately 4:05 PM near Ricla in Zaragoza province, according to Renfe, Spain's state-owned rail operator. The train, which had departed Madrid Puerta de Atocha at 2:27 PM, was travelling on the Madrid–Barcelona high-speed line when the fire started. Both tracks of the line were immediately closed, halting all AVE services between the two cities during the busy return period of the Puente del Pilar holiday.
No Injuries Reported
Renfe confirmed that all passengers were safely evacuated and no injuries were reported. Emergency services, including firefighters from the DPZ (Diputación Provincial de Zaragoza), were deployed to the site to extinguish the fire, which affected the locomotive.
All passengers have been evacuated safely and are being assisted. We regret the inconvenience caused and have activated free changes and refunds for affected tickets.
Service Disruption and Passenger Support
The disruption affected all high-speed traffic on the corridor, one of the busiest rail routes in Spain. Renfe has activated provisions for free ticket changes and refunds for passengers impacted by the cancellation. Travellers are advised to check the Renfe website for real-time updates on service restoration and alternative travel options. The company has not yet provided an estimated time for the resumption of normal operations.
This incident comes amid Renfe's heightened fire prevention measures during high-risk months, as outlined in its June 2026 emergency preparedness plan.
Primary sources: renfe.com, grupo.renfe.com. Reported by lasexta.com, ground.news, elconfidencial.com, ultimahora.es, lavanguardia.com, VilaWeb Feed, cadenaser.com, Heraldo.es, La Sexta Barcelona.
