Travelers with a Renfe ticket for Thursday, October 29 must review two different circumstances before going to the station: the train drivers’ strike and the disruptions caused by the Urda accident. Semaf confirmed this Wednesday that it is maintaining the call, while at the same time extending its condolences to the victims and asking for prudence regarding the causes of the crash.
The check cannot be limited to looking up the route name. It is necessary to identify the train number, the date and the route, consult Renfe’s communications, and review the state of the infrastructure. A service scheduled within the minimums of a strike may be affected by an unrelated incident.
The call extends from 00:01 to 23:59 on Thursday and is directed at the driving staff of the companies of the Renfe Group.
Is tomorrow’s strike still called?
Yes. The confirmation released by Semaf on October 28 maintains the stoppage planned for the following day. The union has linked the mobilization to its demands regarding railway safety and compliance with previous commitments. It has also indicated that it is studying new measures, without that announcement allowing other specific dates to be considered called.
The strike had already been announced on October 16. Therefore, its origin is prior to the Urda accident. Among the issues raised by the train drivers are the protocols for weather emergencies, communication coordination, hiring and the reliability of railway rolling stock.
Renfe maintains, for its part, that it has complied with the commitments corresponding to it in the February agreement and that part of the demands exceeds its powers. That discrepancy between company and union does not replace the operational information that each traveler needs about their departure.
What minimum services have been announced
Renfe has published minimums of 73% for High Speed and Long Distance and an average of 65% for Medium Distance. In Suburban Rail, the state communication establishes 75% during peak periods and 50% the rest of the day.
Catalonia has specific regulations for Rodalies and Regionales: 66% in the peak hours set by the Generalitat and 33% during the rest of the day. Its time slots also do not coincide with those included in the general Suburban Rail announcement.
| Service | Minimums | Schedule or scope |
|---|---|---|
| High Speed and Long Distance | 73% | Usual Renfe services. |
| Medium Distance | 65% on average | Check the specific departure. |
| Cercanías: peak time bands of the state announcement | 75% | 06:00–09:00; 13:30–15:30; 18:30–20:30. |
| Cercanías: rest of the day | 50% | Outside those bands. |
| Rodalies and Regionales of Catalonia: peak hour | 66% | 06:00–09:30 and 17:00–20:30. |
| Rodalies and Regionales of Catalonia: rest of the day | 33% | Outside Catalonia's peak time bands. |
How to check a specific train
The first step is to locate the train number and the date on the ticket. Then, review the reservation and the communications received from Renfe, including the messages sent to the phone number or email provided when purchasing.
It identifies the corresponding resolution. The general percentages serve to understand the scope of the reduction, but they do not allow one to deduce which departure is kept on a specific route.
For Rodalies, the specific page of the call gathers links to the minimum service schedules for its lines. It is preferable to consult that special schedule rather than organize the trip with a screenshot of the usual timetable.
If the reservation information and the general notice do not resolve the doubt, it is advisable to contact Renfe indicating the train number.
Why you also have to check the Urda accident
The strike affects the provision of the service by Renfe; the infrastructure restrictions respond to another cause. That is why both notices must be reviewed before starting the trip.
The network status page of Adif is one of the official monitoring channels. Adif has also set up assistance points for affected people in Atocha, Sevilla Santa Justa, Córdoba Julio Anguita and Málaga María Zambrano.
A possible modification of the strike would also not amount, by itself, to the reopening of a track. In the same way, the restoration of traffic on a section would not automatically eliminate the labor disruptions of day 29.
What to do before leaving home
It is advisable to check again shortly before traveling and keep the notices about cancellations or changes. If another departure is offered, its station, schedule and conditions must be checked before accepting it.
On Cercanías and Rodalies, it is advisable to allow extra time to arrive at an appointment, work, or a connection. The announced percentages should not be turned into a frequency calculated automatically: the effective distribution depends on the special timetable of each line.
Anyone who needs to buy a bus or alternative flight should first check what solution their railway operator offers. Keep tickets, receipts and communications will facilitate any later procedure and will avoid confusing a new purchase with a change already confirmed to the original reservation.