Users of Cercanías Madrid should prepare for a day of significant service disruptions this Thursday, October 29, when Renfe drivers are called to take part in a 24-hour strike called by the Sindicato Español de Maquinistas y Ayudantes Ferroviarios (Semaf). The stoppage, which will begin at 00:01 hours and end at 23:59, will affect all companies in the railway group and will require minimum service levels to be applied, which, in the case of Cercanías, will range between 50% and 75%.
The company itself has warned that train traffic will be "very affected" throughout the day and has recommended that travelers look for alternative means of transport. The incidents could even begin during the last hours of this Wednesday, due to the proximity of the start of the strike.
The call comes, moreover, in a particularly difficult week for rail transport, after the accident recorded this Wednesday in Urda (Toledo), which has caused the interruption of high-speed traffic on the Madrid-Andalusia corridor.
Timetables and minimum services for the Renfe strike on October 29
The Ministry of Transport has established minimum services of 75% during Cercanías Madrid peak hours, while the percentage will be reduced to 50% during the periods of lowest demand.
The established timetables are as follows:
| Time slot | Minimum services |
|---|---|
| 06:00 - 09:00 Morning peak hour | 75% |
| 09:00 - 13:30 Off-peak hours | 50% |
| 13:30 - 15:30 Midday peak hour | 75% |
| 15:30 - 18:30 Off-peak hours | 50% |
| 18:30 - 20:30 Evening peak hour | 75% |
| 20:30 - 23:59 Off-peak hours | 50% |
Source: Ministry of Transport and Cercanías Madrid. The percentages correspond to the minimum services established for the different time slots and do not guarantee identical frequencies on all lines.
Cercanías Madrid has sent users an explicit warning about the consequences of the call. "We recommend looking for alternative means", the company has said through its official account on X, where it has also lamented the inconvenience that may arise.
Although the strike will formally begin at midnight, Renfe has warned that the last services this Wednesday could experience disruptions.
Why Renfe drivers are on strike
The Semaf union justifies the call by the "administrative blockade" of the agreements reached previously and the lack of progress on various claims related to working conditions and railway safety.
Among its main demands are the improvement of action protocols in the face of adverse weather phenomena, the hiring of new drivers, the response in situations of being run over, and the measures aimed at guaranteeing the reliability of rolling stock.
The organization also demands specific rules for communications in risk situations, the implementation of the so-called just culture in driving cabs and the establishment of direct communication channels with the Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Ferroviaria (AESF) and the Labour Inspectorate.
Added to these demands is the unblocking of the reduction coefficients for retirement age, one of the collective's claims.
According to Semaf, both the Administration and Renfe, Adif and the AESF are delaying the application of the commitments acquired through administrative procedures that the union considers excessively slow.
Renfe questions the call and defends having complied with the agreements
Renfe's management has rejected the arguments used to justify the stoppage and considers it "incoherent" to hold a strike based on claims that, according to the company, exceed its powers.
Sources from the operator have explained that some of the issues raised by Semaf, such as the regulation of driving times or certain actions by the Labour Inspectorate, depend on bodies other than Renfe.
The company has also recalled that these demands were not included in the collective agreement signed last July and has defended full compliance with the agreement signed in February to strengthen railway safety after the Adamuz accident (Córdoba).
In this regard, Renfe says it has hired more than 1,200 workers and claims the measures it applies in the face of adverse weather conditions and other situations that may compromise traffic safety.
The operator has regretted the harm that the call will cause to travelers, while Semaf maintains the planned stoppage for this Thursday.
What travelers should keep in mind this Thursday
In view of the announced disruptions, passengers planning to use Cercanías Madrid should pay special attention to traffic schedules and to Renfe's official communications.
Minimum services do not equal the usual functioning of the network, so waits longer than usual and modifications to the train offering may occur.
Cercanías Madrid's recommendation is to use alternative means of transport whenever possible, especially on journeys that depend on specific timetables.
The strike has been called in all companies of the Renfe group, although the percentages of minimum services detailed by the Ministry of Transport in the information released correspond specifically to Cercanías.