Travellers heading to Spain have been warned of severe disruption
The FCDO says you should check the latest information before you travel(Image: GETTY)
Holidaymakers travelling to Spain have been cautioned that they could face ‘severe disruption’. The alert mirrors guidance released by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on Monday.
It follows a high-speed train crash on Sunday evening near Adamuz in the Córdoba province. At least 43 people died in the incident, with a further 159 people injured after two trains collided and derailed.
At the time, the FCDO warned of ‘severe disruption’. In an updated statement on its travel guidance page, it states: “On 18 January, two high‐speed trains collided near Adamuz, in the province of Córdoba in Andalusia, southern Spain.
“High‐speed rail services between Madrid and Andalusia remain severely disrupted. Renfe, the national railway operator, has introduced a replacement transport plan combining train and bus services. Additional bus and rail services operate on some routes.”
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You should:
- check the latest information with your train operator before you travel
- allow extra time for your journey
- follow local authority advice
If you need assistance or information about affected passengers, you can contact:
- ADIF: (+34) 900 10 10 20 @Adif_es
- IRYO: (+34) 900 00 14 02 @iryo_eu
- Emergency services (112 EMA): From inside Andalusia: 061; from outside Andalusia: (+34) 953 00 11 49
“If you are a British national and you or a family member have been affected by this accident and require consular support, call the nearest British Embassy or Consulate on 0034 91 714 6300.”
It is understood a high-speed train operated by Iryo travelling from Málaga to Madrid derailed before colliding with another train. The second train, which was run by state rail operator Renfe, also derailed and plunged down an embankment, authorities confirmed.
Bianca Birleanu, 23, who was journeying to Huelva, revealed to newspaper El Pais: “We felt the first jolt and, in a fraction of a second, another very strong one.
“The table in front of our seat fell on top of us, the lights went out, and the carriage roof collapsed.”