Renfe has announced that maquinists are not complying with minimum service requirements during a 24-hour strike, prompting the operator to advise travelers to seek alternative transportation.
At 6:30 a.m., 60% of the mandated services had already been canceled.
The strike, the first of three scheduled this week, has severely disrupted the Rodalies network in Catalonia. Renfe confirmed on social media that trains are not operating as scheduled. The minimum service, set at 66% during peak hours and 33% at other times, is not being met, according to the company.
Early Morning Disruptions
The scale of the disruption was evident from the early hours. By 6 a.m., only 14 trains had departed, despite a planned minimum of 25. Just 30 minutes later, the number of canceled services reached 60% of the required minimum, according to Renfe.
Rodalia services across Catalonia are experiencing delays and cancellations on all lines. The operator has urged the public to find alternative means of travel for the remainder of Tuesday and throughout the week.
Catalan Authorities Demand Disciplinary Action and Deploy 60 Buses
The Catalan government has responded to the non-compliance, stating it will demand that Renfe open disciplinary proceedings. The regional minister for Territory, Sílvia Paneque, said authorities will be “strict” with the operator to determine why the minimum services have not been respected and why some maquinists have failed to report to work.
To mitigate the impact on commuters, the government has deployed an additional 60 buses. Paneque explained these buses were not scheduled in advance to avoid infringing on the right to strike, but were added to “guarantee the right to mobility” for citizens.
📢 ATENCIÓ ℹ️ Degut a l’incompliment dels serveis mínims establerts per a la jornada de vaga d’avui, els trens no estan prestant el servei programat. 👉 Recomanem l’ús de mitjans de transport alternatiu: Consulta els serveis a https://t.co/isHzZgh1gO Disculpin les molèsties
Labor Dispute at the Core
The strikes are rooted in a labor conflict between Renfe and the maquinists’ union, Semaf. The immediate trigger is the company’s return to “regulatory schedules,” which now require all maquinists to check in at Barcelona Sants station regardless of where their train route begins.
This policy forces maquinists to start their workday in Barcelona, even if they must then travel to a distant starting point like Vic to begin a service. Renfe confirmed this change after weekend talks with the union broke down, a point reported by Rac1.
Wider Context of Unresolved Safety Concerns
This week’s strikes are part of a broader protest by Semaf demanding structural changes to railway safety. The union argues that working groups created after a February agreement with the Ministry of Transport have been inactive since April, blocking safety protocol advancements.
The recent spate of strikes began after the fatal train accident in Urda, Toledo, on October 29, which claimed 69 lives. Semaf maintains the protests are necessary to address a “blockade of railway safety commitments,” as reported by Diari de Girona.
Upcoming Strike Actions
Today’s 24-hour strike is the first of three major labor actions this week. A general strike across Spain is scheduled for Wednesday, November 11, which will also affect public transport with a minimum service of 25% during peak hours. No protected services will be in place for the rest of the day.
Another partial maquinists’ strike is set for Thursday, November 12. Further disruption is expected on Monday, November 17, when a joint strike for Renfe and Adif personnel is planned. This action, confirmed by the employee committee after a labor conflict commission meeting failed to reach an agreement, will involve maquinists from eight different operators.
