Wildfire near Lleida suspends high-speed trains between Lleida and Barcelona, affecting Madrid line
A wildfire in stubble fields near Albi, Lleida, broke out around 10:30 a.m. on 18 June, prompting authorities to suspend all high-speed train services between Lleida and Barcelona and disrupting the Madrid–Barcelona line.
Fire breaks out near railway
A wildfire ignited around 10:30 a.m. on Thursday 18 June in stubble fields in Albi, a municipality in the Les Garrigues region of Lleida province. The flames spread close to the high-speed railway line and the LV-7031 road, leading to the immediate suspension of train services.
Train services cut
The suspension affects high-speed connections between Lleida and Barcelona, and also impacts the Madrid–Barcelona high-speed corridor, according to the rail infrastructure manager. Civil Protection of Catalonia activated the Ferrocat rail emergency plan pre-alert.Circulation between Lleida-Pirineus and Camp de Tarragona is interrupted due to an external fire.
Firefighting response
Twelve firefighting units, including three aerial resources, were deployed to contain the blaze. The fire affected fields of crop stubble, and its proximity to the railway line forced the traffic cut. No injuries have been reported.
Recent fire activity in the area
The incident comes days after a wildfire in Cervià de les Garrigues, also in Lleida province, burned around 33 hectares last weekend. Firefighters remain deployed at another fire in Talavera, declared on Wednesday afternoon.
