Commuter chaos hits Malaga’s Cercanías: Dozens of trains cancelled on C1 and C2 lines

Malaga’s commuter rail service faced major disruption on Tuesday, February 10, with dozens of trains cancelled or replaced on the key C1 (Malaga-Fuengirola) and C2 (Malaga-Alora) lines. Commuters suffered widespread frustration during morning and afternoon peak hours as services were hit by what Renfe described as “operational incidents.”

According to official data from Renfe, problems began early in the morning and affected nearly 40 services by midday. On the busy C1 line, Spain’s most profitable commuter route, connecting Malaga city centre to Fuengirola via key stops like the airport and Torremolinos, over 20 trains were fully cancelled in both directions. Examples included the 5.55am departure from Malaga Centro Alameda to Fuengirola, the 6.45am from Fuengirola to Malaga, and multiple others up to mid-afternoon, such as the 4.40pm from Fuengirola and the 5pm return.

Guadalhorce train route affected too

The C2 line to Alora in the Guadalhorce Valley also suffered, with cancellations including the 7.50am from Malaga to Alora, the 8.53am from Alora to Malaga, and later services like the 2.55pm return. In some cases, trains to Alora were replaced by buses departing from María Zambrano station’s forecourt, including the 2.40pm, 3.40pm, 5.40pm, and 6.40pm departures from Malaga. Renfe also reported general delays on the C1 in both directions and periods with no service on parts of the C2.

Strike called off at last minute, except in Malaga

Renfe attributed the problems to “point-specific operational disruptions stemming from the strike”. Although major unions (including CCOO, UGT, and SEMAF) lifted their nationwide rail strike call on Monday after reaching an agreement with the Ministry of Transport, some minority organisations continued the protest. This led to staff shortages or refusals to work certain shifts, even after the revocation of minimum service decrees for those days.

The rail company stated that normality was being progressively restored as the stoppages ended, though some delays and alterations could persist until full service resumed. Renfe apologised for the inconvenience and asked for passengers to check official channels for updates.

These disruptions come during ongoing difficulties for Malaga’s Cercanías, which saw at least one daily incident in January. Thousands of daily commuters, who rely on these lines for work, school, and airport access, faced long waits or alternative transport arrangements.