On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, residents in Madrid will enjoy free transportation services across Cercanías Renfe, interurban buses, and EMT buses as a response to the massive power outage that left Spain and Portugal without electricity, telephone lines, and internet on Monday, April 28, 2025. This outage, which began around 12:30 PM, resulted from a significant fluctuation in the electricity grid, causing a chain reaction that affected not only the Iberian Peninsula but also parts of southern France and Andorra.
In a brief announcement, Renfe confirmed that all Cercanías network tickets would be free on Tuesday, stating, "No ticket purchase will be necessary, although access controls will be in place." Meanwhile, EMT Madrid declared a special day of free service on all its lines, emphasizing, "Just get on, and we’ll take you wherever you need to go. All lines will be operational to facilitate the mobility of Madrileños." Additionally, the Regional Transport Consortium of Madrid announced that all interurban buses would also be free throughout the day.
As the city grapples with the aftermath of the blackout, taxis that were scheduled to be off on Tuesday will be authorized to provide service, enhancing mobility options for those affected. The Comunidad de Madrid is working diligently to restore the Metro de Madrid service, with hopes of resuming operations as soon as possible.
By early Tuesday morning, 129 out of the 179 municipalities in the Madrid region had regained power, a significant improvement since the blackout. The restoration of electricity began around 6 PM on Monday and continued into the night. Metro Ligero service has already been restored on lines ML2 (Colonia Jardín - Estación de Aravaca) and ML3 (Puerta de Boadilla - Colonia Jardín), marking a step towards normality.
In light of the ongoing disruption, the regional government has taken several measures to support citizens. All public schools will remain open on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, despite the suspension of regular classes. This decision aims to assist families in managing their daily routines during the transportation challenges. Additionally, the government has postponed knowledge tests scheduled for 280,000 students until a later date.
Public hospitals and nursing homes are operating normally, with the Comunidad de Madrid ensuring that essential services remain unaffected. The Specialized Center for Daily Care of Patients with ALS at the Enfermera Isabel Zendal Public Hospital will remain open throughout the night, providing care for 12 patients and their families. Furthermore, the Canal de Isabel II has activated its contingency plan, deploying generators to ensure water supply across the region.
Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the President of the Comunidad de Madrid, has been actively overseeing the crisis response. In interviews, she described the efforts being made as "an extraordinary effort to recover normality" and urged citizens to limit unnecessary travel. "We are doing everything possible to restore services as quickly as we can," she remarked, highlighting the resilience and commitment of the public services in Madrid.
As the situation unfolds, the regional crisis cabinet, which convened at the ASEM 112 headquarters in Pozuelo de Alarcón, has emphasized the importance of maintaining public safety and ensuring that critical infrastructures remain protected.
For those stranded due to the outage, the Movistar Arena has been designated as a temporary shelter, accommodating travelers who were unable to return home. Reports indicate that some students from the IES Isabel la Católica spent the night at the school with their teachers, unable to return home due to the blackout. Similarly, around fifty individuals from a train traveling from Valladolid were left stranded and spent the night at the Centro Rural Agrupado de Santa María de la Alameda.
The mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez Almeida, has also weighed in on the situation, confirming that all EMT buses will be free on Tuesday to facilitate travel amidst the ongoing challenges. He stated, "This Tuesday will continue to be a complicated day. To facilitate movement, all EMT buses will be free."
As the city works towards recovery, the cooperation between local authorities, transportation services, and the community is evident. The proactive measures taken by the Comunidad de Madrid aim not only to restore mobility but also to ensure that essential services continue to function effectively during this challenging time.
Looking ahead, the focus will remain on fully restoring the Metro services and ensuring that all transportation lines are operational as soon as possible. The regional government is committed to keeping the public informed about the restoration process and any further developments related to the power outage and its impact on daily life in Madrid.
