When our high-speed train from Madrid to Barcelona slowly came to a halt, I wasn’t particularly concerned. However, once an announcement echoed through the speakers, both me and the additional 439 travelers onboard discovered what the remainder of Spain was already aware of: “There is no electricity throughout the entire country.”
On Monday, April 29, at 12:33 PM local time, Spain experienced a severe disruption in its power grid.
the reason for which remains unconfirmed
The event that caused a widespread blackout throughout the Iberian Peninsula, encompassing both Portugal and Andorra, along with portions of France, left me among approximately 35,000 individuals unexpectedly trapped inside a train far from civilization. Not only did we lose our power supply, but communication ceased when cellphone towers failed. Subway services ground to a stop, and over 300 flights had to be cancelled since every airport was rendered non-functional. While buses remained operational, they reportedly became overcrowded as travelers sought alternative means to reach their destinations amid this disruption.
Gradually becoming clear to me was the realization that I was caught up in a historic nationwide crisis. This situation led to some of the most bewildering and exasperating travel disruptions I have ever faced. Due to these issues, I reached Barcelona 24 hours behind schedule, encountering a range of problems—from complete breakdowns in communication to witnessing acts of generosity from people who came forward to help. These experiences taught me valuable lessons about traveling when unexpectedly trapped during an extraordinary emergency like the 2025 Spanish blackout.
Attempt to avoid surrendering to panic.
Right away, the train was powered down to save the remaining battery life since these high-speed models run on electricity rather than diesel fuel. The interior became hotter, and the restroom basins filled up with clear water (it seemed that an automated shutoff mechanism for the water supply had been disabled). To allow some ventilation, the train doors were left open; however, through loudspeaker announcements made carriage by carriage, crew members instructed us not to suddenly rush out en masse.
We felt somewhat uneasy, yet nobody was injured, and we each managed to find a seat. Around five o’clock, members of the Spanish Civil Guard came to see if anyone required medical aid and brought along some food and water for us. Later, they permitted us to disembark from the train using emergency ladders placed against the steep slope where we’d become stranded, allowing us to walk around outside. Passengers gathered in an adjacent field next to the tracks. Despite everybody being concerned, ultimately, our only option was to wait patiently with hopeful optimism. After all, panic can spread quickly, just as serenity can.
Keep in mind that every awful travel day eventually reaches its conclusion.
Regardless of whether it’s due to a weather delay, an
global cyber outage
, or the blackout of an entire nation’s electrical system, even the most challenging travel experiences ultimately conclude—despite feeling never-ending at the time. Each hurdle presents difficulties when dealing with feelings of frustration and despair. However, numerous strategies can aid in diverting your attention; these include concentrating on aspects within your control and seeking opportunities to assist those around you. In our case aboard the train, we addressed this by constructing a ramp to facilitate elderly passengers’ descent onto the field, or by interpreting announcements for English-speaking travelers who didn’t understand Spanish.
Consider new information cautiously.
Gossip can spiral out of control in such scenarios, and you can picture how quickly panic sets in when folks find themselves isolated from the global community. There were those who claimed blackouts had swept across entire continents like Europe. Conspiracy theorists even floated ideas involving cyber-attacks and solar flares—intense bursts of radiant energy periodically released by the sun. Nonetheless, my main concern was not with the false information circulating about distant places.
The Spanish Civil Guard informed us that we would be relocated to a neighboring town from which buses were available to go to Barcelona. Another traveler mentioned that it was improbable for our train service to resume operation that evening. Eager not to spend the night without power, I boarded one of the vehicles driven by a local volunteer heading towards a nearby eatery. Unfortunately for me, shortly thereafter, my train revived itself and departed toward Barcelona just half an hour post my departure. Upon reaching the designated town, contrary to what I’d heard earlier about accessible transport options, no buses headed for Barcelona could be found. Instead, some volunteers escorted us to a railway station located in Zaragoza—the biggest stop along the route connecting Barcelona and Madrid—around midnight. There, I ended up waiting another full day before being able to get onto a train bound for Barcelona. Reflecting now, staying put might’ve seen me arriving back home around 3 AM via my initial train schedule. It became clear later that adhering strictly to verified information should’ve guided my decision-making process better.
Individuals are more commendable than we often acknowledge.
Incorrect data made this trip more challenging than necessary, but the residents of Salillas de Jalón, the tiny village where our train unexpectedly halted without a station nearby, transformed the experience into something far less arduous. Just a few hours following the loss of electricity, locals turned up with containers full of water, sacks brimming with potato chips, piping-hot coffee, cartons of milk, and bottles of wine. As night descended, a generator magically materialized to supply power for the emergency floodlights they provided as well. What initially seemed like an urgent nationwide crisis started feeling reminiscent of a festive street gathering in Spain.
The only thing that warmed my heart more than the kindness of the people who helped our train was coming home to find videos on social media proving that our situation was not at all unique. All over the Spanish countryside, regular people had flocked to the stranded trains, offering assistance however they could. “Look for the helpers,” as Mr. Rogers once famously said. “You will always find people who are helping.”
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