Semaf train drivers strike disrupts Renfe and Rodalies on 10, 11 and 12 November

Three strike days in one week

Train drivers at Renfe, represented by the Semaf union, began a 24-hour strike at midnight that runs until 23:59 on Tuesday, 10 November. A second action on Thursday, 12 November, is split into three windows: 06:20 to 09:20, 14:20 to 17:20 and 21:20 to 23:20. A general strike across Spain on Wednesday, 11 November, adds further disruption to rail traffic. Semaf has also joined a strike called for 17 November by unions with seats on the Adif works council, which protest working conditions and safety on the network. The Tuesday stoppage is the union's second after a 24-hour strike on 29 October.

What the strike is about

Semaf says the government has not honoured commitments agreed in February, when unions and the government agreed to reinforce network maintenance and increase staffing. The union frames the protest as a demand for structural change in rail safety. The walkout went ahead despite an accident at Urda in Toledo shortly before. Carlos Cuerpo, the first vice president of the government, has taken on the functions of Transport Minister in place of Óscar Puente, and has not been able to calm the protest in talks with Semaf. The strike is aimed at train drivers across the Renfe group.

Minimum services and Renfe's response

The Ministry of Transport set minimum services for the Semaf strike at 75% of Cercanías frequencies in peak hours and 50% for the rest of the day. Media Distancia is guaranteed 65% of its timetable, high-speed and long-distance services 72%, and freight 20%. Renfe said on X that it had enabled free changes and cancellations for all its trains, including those covered by minimum services. Passengers with affected trains are to receive a message by SMS or email at the contact details linked to their booking. Renfe had also warned of a strong impact on services, especially Cercanías Madrid and Rodalies de Cataluña.

Cercanías, peak hours75%

Cercanías, rest of day50%

Media Distancia65%

High-speed and long-distance72%

Freight20%

Cercanías, peak hours

75 %

Cercanías, rest of day

50 %

Media Distancia

65 %

High-speed and long-distance

72 %

Freight

20 %

Data from the article text

Cercanías Madrid advised users to look for alternative transport, saying its service would be heavily affected and that the last trains of the day could be hit.

Rodalies in Catalonia

Early on Tuesday, Rodalies said on X that the minimum services set for the strike day were not being met, so trains were not running the timetabled service, and it recommended alternative transport.

“Due to non-compliance with the minimum services set for today's strike, trains are not providing the scheduled service.”

Europa Press reported Rodalies minimum services of 66% at peak hours and 33% off-peak for Tuesday and Thursday, and 25% at peak hours with no service off-peak for the general strike on Wednesday. Rodalies said the service would be affected on three days, 10 and 12 November because of the Semaf strike and Wednesday because of the general strike.

Òscar Playà, chief executive of Rodalies de Catalunya, told 3Cat on Monday, 9 November, that passengers should look for alternative mobility options in a difficult week. He also appealed to the responsibility of train drivers in guaranteeing the set minimum services. La Vanguardia reports that many regular passengers depend entirely on trains to reach work, university or medical appointments.

A difficult period for the network

La Vanguardia reports that the disruption coincides with the delicate transfer of Rodalies powers, three serious rail accidents since January with 116 dead, and around a hundred works running at the same time. The same report points to weather events that have exposed the fragility of the system. Renfe's works council elections, due in March, are also adding to the tension. The strike dates in the coming days are fixed, with the 17 November action still to come.