Severe Flooding Halts Rail, Road, and Air Traffic in Valencia Region
The Valencian Community has been heavily affected by severe weather due to DANA storm, leading to widespread rail, road, and air travel disruptions. The region has been experiencing historic levels of rainfall, with over 180 liters per square meter recorded in some areas. This unprecedented storm has wreaked havoc on the transportation network, leaving many travelers stranded.
In response to the situation, Adif, the railway infrastructure manager, suspended all rail traffic in the Valencian Community.
This includes the high-speed line between Madrid and Valencia, as well as the connections to Barcelona and the local commuter train hub. As of now, trains on five major commuter rail lines, including Valencia-Gandia (C1), Valencia-Moixent (C2), Valencia-Utiel (C3), Valencia-Caudiel (C5), and Valencia-Castello (C6), have been halted. The high-speed trains between Madrid and Valencia, and the AVE services linking Valencia with Seville, are also suspended indefinitely.
Metrovalencia Suffers from Severe Flooding
Metrovalencia services have also been completely interrupted since yesterday.
Flooding at stations, such as Carlet, has compounded the issues caused by downed overhead lines. The Valencian Ministry of Infrastructure reported that the lobby of the Valencia Sud station, the central headquarters of Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana (FGV), suffered significant flooding, which forced the evacuation of control personnel to the first floor of the facility. The rain continues to affect the entire metro network, with no immediate reopening in sight.
Regional and Long-Distance Services Impacted
The heavy rainfall has also caused long and medium-distance train services to come to a standstill.
All services along the Valencia-Alicante-Murcia line are currently suspended. Similarly, the medium-distance routes between Valencia and Albacete-Alcazar de San Juan, as well as Valencia-Aragon and Valencia-Tortosa, are facing significant disruptions, with no alternative services in place.
On top of the regional rail suspensions, a high-speed train traveling from Malaga to Madrid experienced a critical incident when its front bogie derailed due to heavy flooding near Alora. The train was successfully put back on track, but this incident has caused further delays on the Malaga-Antequera high-speed route.
Additionally, conventional rail services between Gobantes and El Chorro, and between El Chorro and Las Mellizas on the Malaga-Bobadilla line, have been interrupted due to the same adverse weather conditions.
A-3 Motorway Turned into a Mousetrap
Road transport has also been severely disrupted. The A-3 motorway, one of the primary routes connecting the Valencian Community with Madrid, became completely impassable due to flooding, stranding thousands of drivers. Floodwaters overwhelmed the section of the motorway passing through Chiva, causing traffic to come to a complete halt.
Vehicles were diverted to an industrial estate, but the detour only exacerbated the problem, as the estate’s roads quickly became overwhelmed by the diverted traffic. The overflow of vehicles trapped drivers for hours, with no clear solution in sight. Many, like Esther and Miguel, a couple traveling to Madrid, found themselves stranded in Chiva without knowing whether to wait or find shelter. “We don’t know whether to wait or look for a hotel in Valencia,” they explained, reflecting the uncertainty many drivers faced during the storm.
Drivers attempting to reach Bunol via secondary roads encountered more difficulties as these roads were also flooded. Several regional roads, including the CV-424 and CV-421 linking Chiva with Alborache and Bunol, were closed, further complicating efforts to reroute traffic.
Flights Diverted and Delayed at Valencia Airport
Air traffic was also not spared from the impact of the storm. Since Tuesday, many flights to and from Valencia Airport have been delayed due to the severe weather.
Flooding closed several access roads to the airport, making it difficult for travelers to reach their flights. Several flights bound for Valencia or Madrid were diverted to nearby cities. Some Valencia-bound flights were rerouted to Alicante due to the flooding.
As the Valencian Community grapples with this severe weather, the extent of the damage to the infrastructure remains to be seen.
Travelers are advised to stay updated on transport developments and make alternative arrangements where possible, as there is no clear timetable for when normal services will resume.
The storm’s impact on the region’s transport system has created an ongoing challenge for those attempting to travel in and out of the area.