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Serious structural damage has forced the complete closure of one of the high-speed railway tunnels in Málaga, raising concerns about ongoing safety and maintenance on the AVE network.

 

The incident, which first came to light on Monday July 21, is centred on Tunnel 1 of the Valle de Abdalajís High-Speed Tunnel, along the AVE line between Álora and Gobantes. The tunnel has now been completely closed due to what engineers have described as a significant collapse of part of the vault. Only Tunnel 2 remains operational, and is now carrying all rail traffic on the route.

 

Although Adif, the public company responsible for railway infrastructure, has yet to issue a full explanation, the issue appears to be more serious than initially thought. Staff working on site have released images showing visible damage to the tunnel’s interior, and some workers have attributed the collapse to a long-standing lack of maintenance.

 

Adif has confirmed that debris has fallen inside the tunnel, and they believe the problem may be related to hydrostatic pressure from a nearby aquifer. Despite claiming the tunnel’s safety is not compromised, the decision was made to close Tunnel 1 entirely as a precaution.

 

Local political leaders have criticised the response. José Ramón Carmona, general secretary of the Málaga branch of the People’s Party, said he had formally questioned Transport Minister Óscar Puente over the handling of the situation.

 

“This isn’t the first time the municipality has been affected,” Carmona said, accusing the government of neglecting investment in the region’s rail system. “We’re seeing serious deterioration due to a lack of maintenance, with regular delays, breakdowns and cancellations.”

 

He also warned that potential water leaks in the tunnel’s vault could worsen the damage and urged the national government to act quickly. “The government needs to take this seriously and stop this nonsense before it gets worse,” he added.

 

No timeline has yet been given for repairs or for the reopening of Tunnel 1.

 

 

 

Image: Peter H/Pixabay