Transport ministry sets minimum services of up to 75% for Thursday's Renfe train drivers' strike

The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has set minimum services for the 24-hour strike that the Spanish Union of Railway Train Drivers (Semaf) has called for staff of the Renfe group on Thursday 29 October, according to Renfe and an agency report published on Monday 26.

According to Renfe, Cercanías will run 75% of its usual service at peak times (06:00 to 09:00, 13:30 to 15:30 and 18:30 to 20:30) and 50% for the rest of the day. On Media Distancia services the minimum is on average 65% of usual services; on high-speed and long-distance services, on average 73%, and on freight, 26% of the scheduled service. Renfe says that the trains included in the minimum services are guaranteed to run.

Semaf called the stoppage after failing to reach an agreement in negotiations and denounces what it calls an “administrative blockage” of agreements already signed, according to the agency report. Its demands include binding protocols for weather alerts, the application of rest breaks within driving times, technical solutions for rolling stock and the unblocking of the reduction coefficients for the retirement age.

Renfe considers the strike unjustified because, according to the company, some of the demands, such as the regulations on driving times or actions by the Labour Inspectorate, fall outside its decision-making remit. It also says it has fully complied with the February agreement signed after the Adamuz accident and has taken on more than 1,200 workers.

Renfe has not yet published the list of trains that will run or be cancelled on Thursday, nor how affected passengers will be able to change or cancel their tickets.