The Government and the railway unions keep negotiations open in an attempt to prevent strikes called for November, which could disrupt the circulation of high-speed trains, Cercanías and Media Distancia. The first stoppages are scheduled for Tuesday 10 November at Renfe, although the mobilizations will extend over the following days and will also affect other operators and Adif staff.
The first deputy vice president of the Government, Carlos Cuerpo, who has temporarily taken over Transport competences following the resignation of Óscar Puente, meets again this Friday with the Sindicato Español de Maquinistas Ferroviarios (Semaf). The Thursday meeting ended without agreement and the organization maintains the call-ups until concrete measures are approved to improve rail safety.
The conflict has worsened after the accidents in Adamuz (Córdoba) and Urda (Toledo), which have caused 115 deaths in total. The drivers denounce that the Ministry and public companies have not fulfilled the commitments made in February, after the first of the incidents, while Renfe says it has carried out the measures that depended on its management.
Strike schedule for trains in November
The mobilizations affect different companies and professional groups, so not all days will have the same consequences for travelers. These are the dates planned up to Friday 6 November:
| Date | Call | Operators and services affected |
|---|---|---|
| November 10 | 24-hour strike | Renfe train drivers |
| November 11 | General strike | General call that may also affect rail transport |
| November 12 | Partial work stoppages | Renfe train drivers, in three time slots |
| November 16 | Union mobilization | Concentration of Adif workers in front of Congress |
| November 17 | Railway strike | Renfe, Adif and other passenger and freight operators |
On the 12th, the train drivers of Renfe are called to interrupt their activity between 6.20 and 9.20 hours, 14.20 and 17.20 hours, and 21.20 and 23.20 hours. These time slots partially coincide with periods of high demand, especially in the Cercanías services.
The call on November 17 will have a broader scope, because in addition to the strike promoted by the general company committees of Renfe and Adif, Semaf has called a work stoppage for the train drivers of Renfe, Iryo, Transfesa, Continental Rail, Tracción Rail, Captrain and Medway. The mobilizations may affect both passenger transport and freight transport, as well as the operation of the railway infrastructure.
What happens to Renfe, Iryo and Ouigo trains
Renfe will be the first operator affected by the specific calls of the train drivers. The strike on the 10th and the partial stoppages on the 12th can lead to cancellations or changes to the services of AVE, Avlo, Alvia, Euromed, Intercity, Avant, Media Distancia, Cercanías and Rodalies, depending on the minimum services that are established.
Iryo is also included in the mobilizations of November 17, while Ouigo has withdrawn the specific stoppages it had planned for November 6 and 9 and December 4 and 8.
The withdrawal of those calls by Ouigo does not affect the strikes announced by other unions. Therefore, travelers should check the status of each service before going to the station, especially on the days when mobilizations by different groups coincide.
It is still pending to know the minimum services that will apply in the upcoming strikes and the list of trains that may run. Until the operators publish that information, it is not possible to determine how many services will be suspended.
What the train drivers are demanding and how the negotiations are progressing
Semaf demands compliance with the agreement signed on February 9 with the Ministry of Transport and the presidents of Renfe and Adif, which allowed the strikes called then to be suspended after the accident of Adamuz. The document provided for the creation of working groups to review safety procedures and approve new operating rules.
The union denounces that the scheduled meetings have been postponed repeatedly and that the commission tasked with overseeing the agreement has not yet managed to meet. Its demands include changes to traffic circulation protocols when safety systems fail, better regulation of driving times, and measures to reduce risks arising from incidents involving infrastructure.
Renfe rejects the allegations of noncompliance and maintains that it has carried out the commitments that were under its responsibility. The company says that, of the 24 measures that exceeded its competencies, 17 had already been applied and the remaining seven were in an advanced stage of processing.
The first meeting between Carlos Cuerpo and Semaf, held on Thursday with the participation of the president of Renfe, Álvaro Fernández, and the Secretary of State for Transport, José Antonio Santano, ended without progress. The union insists that it will not call off the strikes without "specific, tangible and verifiable" commitments and has agreed to return to negotiate this Friday.
What rights do travelers have if their train is cancelled
Passengers who have tickets for any of the strike days must consult their operator's communications and check whether the train remains scheduled. Minimum services may allow some services to continue running, although the companies must inform about cancellations and the alternative options available.
If a train is cancelled, the traveler has the right to request a refund of the ticket or to choose alternative transport, under the conditions set out by rail regulations. European Regulation 2021/782 also provides for assistance obligations in certain circumstances and sets out passengers' rights when delays or service interruptions occur.
Financial compensation for delays does not necessarily apply in all strike scenarios. The regulations distinguish between circumstances attributable to the railway company and certain extraordinary situations, so it is advisable to consult each operator's conditions and the specific cause of the incident.
During the stoppages on 29 October, Renfe allowed changes and cancellations at no cost to affected travelers. The commercial terms for the new calls must be confirmed once the minimum services and any possible cancellations are known.