The Renfe strike next Tuesday 17 November 2026 will cause disruptions to rail services across all of Spain, with cancellations of commuter trains (Cercanías), Medium Distance, AVE and Long Distance trains. The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has set the minimum services that must be maintained during the day, with percentages ranging between 50% and 75% of the usual timetable depending on the type of service and the time band. The call affects a working day, so thousands of travelers could find changes to their usual journeys.
The work stoppage has been called for Tuesday 17 November, from 00.00 to 23.59 hours, and affects the entire Renfe Group. The mobilization has the backing of the General Committee of the Renfe Group and trade union organizations such as Semaf, CCOO, UGT, CGT, Sindicato Ferroviario Intersindical and Alternativa Ferroviaria, which are demanding measures to strengthen rail safety following the accidents recorded this year.
On this Saturday 14 November, Renfe has published the percentages for minimum services and the official documentation with the trains that are planned to run. The company acknowledges that the strike will cause inconvenience for users, although it reminds that the existence of minimum services does not mean that all the trains initially planned will run. For that reason, it is especially important to check each journey before going to the station, even when the traveler already has a purchased ticket.
Which trains will run during the Renfe strike on 17 November
The resolution approved on 12 November sets different levels of service to ensure travel considered essential. Cercanías will be one of the services most affected by the time bands, while High Speed and Long Distance trains will have a specific schedule.
In the case of Cercanías, the minimum services will be 75% during peak hours, between 06.00 and 09.00 hours, 13.30 and 15.30 hours, and 18.30 and 20.30 hours. During the rest of the day, the percentage will be reduced to 50% of the usual services, so waiting times between trains could increase.
On Medium Distance, the Ministry has set an average of the 65% of the usual service frequency. The ministerial resolution calculates that, of the 682 trains affected by the call in this area, 444 must be maintained within the minimum services.
For its part, the services of High Speed and Long Distance will have a guaranteed percentage of 72%. Specifically, of the 246 trains affected by the strike, the minimum schedule includes the running of 177, which leaves 69 outside the list of minimum services.
The strike will also affect Renfe Mercancías, where a minimum running equivalent to 26% of the scheduled services has been established. These percentages correspond to the state resolution, while certain rail services in Catalonia and the Basque Country have specific autonomous powers to set their own minimums.
In any case, the percentages are general references and do not by themselves allow determining whether a specific train will run on time. To do this, it is necessary to consult the lists of services published by the operator and check possible later changes.
How to know if your AVE, Alvia or Medium Distance train is affected
Passengers who plan to travel on Tuesday must check the number of the train that appears on your ticket, along with the date, the origin and the destination. Renfe has enabled on its official website about the strike of November 17 two documents with information about the scheduled services: one corresponding to public services and another to commercial ones.
The first includes the services of Medium Distance and other services subject to public service obligations, while the second collects commercial trains, including AVE, Avlo, Alvia, Euromed and Intercity. The resolution of the Ministry of Transport also incorporates lists of trains identified by their number, time table and route.
The consultation can be carried out from the official Renfe website,www.renfe.com, or through its mobile application, using the information associated with the booking. It is advisable to review the status of the journey both before the day of travel and shortly before heading to the station, because additional incidents may occur during the course of the strike.
It is also advisable to pay attention to the SMS messages and emails sent by the company, especially when a phone number or a contact address has been provided when purchasing the ticket. During previous strike days, Renfe has used these channels to communicate cancellations and alternatives to affected travelers.
For those who use Cercanías or Rodalies every day, the consultation should focus on the specific notices for each rail hub, since services may experience changes in frequency and last-minute disruptions, even in the periods in which it is planned to keep the highest percentage of traffic.