ICE on the track meant long-distance travellers on the Gijón-Alicante train yesterday (Sunday) evening had to get off at León, according to rail board RENFE.
The train left Gijón in the northern coastal region of Asturias at 14.20 and was due to make its first stop in Madrid at 20.51, then arrive in Alicante at 23.01.
But just before 17.00, an announcement via megaphone called for passengers to get off the ALVIA line in the centre-northern city of León and wait for another train.
However, they only had to hang around for 10 minutes or so before they were on their way again.
Extreme cold weather with ice and record snowfall has been causing chaos in the regions of Madrid and Castilla y León especially, but affects a large part of the middle and north of the mainland.
Temperatures as low as -10ºC and up to 45 centimetres (18 inches) of snow have led to motorways being shut and slow-moving traffic.
For today (Monday), the snow is expected to let up but heavy rain and continuing cold temperatures are forecast.
The photograph shows the return train, from Alicante to Madrid, battling through snow.
