October 24, 2026 — Update — Spain’s train drivers’ union SEMAF still plans a 24-hour strike across the Renfe Group on Thursday, October 29. What’s new: on October 23, Catalonia’s regional government set minimum services for Rodalies commuter and regional trains. National minimum services for other Renfe trains had not been confirmed in the sources we could open.
The strike
- Union: SEMAF (Sindicato Español de Maquinistas Ferroviarios), representing train drivers.
- When: Thursday, October 29, 2026, from 00:01 to 23:59.
- Who: All train-driving staff in the Renfe Group.
- Services at risk: Cercanías/Rodalies commuter trains, Media Distancia, Larga Distancia and Alta Velocidad (AVE/Avant) trains run by Renfe. A list of cancelled trains is TBA.
- Why: SEMAF says agreements on rail safety, hiring new drivers and working conditions are stuck. Mediation and a meeting with the transport ministry, Adif, the rail safety agency AESF and Renfe did not settle the dispute. Renfe says it has kept to the agreement that ended an earlier strike.
Minimum services
| Service | Peak hours | Off-peak | Set by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rodalies and Regionals (Catalonia) | 66% | 33% | Generalitat de Catalunya (October 23) |
| Cercanías elsewhere, Media Distancia, AVE/Larga Distancia | TBA | TBA | Ministry of Transport (not yet confirmed) |
Ouigo strikes too
SEMAF has also called strikes at the private high-speed operator Ouigo, saying the company has broken the collective agreement on hours, shifts, rest and overtime. Ouigo says it is complying and that talks remain open.
| Date | Type |
|---|---|
| Friday, October 30 | 24 hours |
| Monday, November 2 | 24 hours |
| Friday, November 6 | Partial (hours TBA) |
| Monday, November 9 | Partial (hours TBA) |
| Friday, December 4 | TBA |
| Tuesday, December 8 | TBA |
According to Merca2, the Ouigo dates fall on three of Spain’s holiday long weekends.
What it means for airline travelers
- Don’t count on Renfe trains for airport connections on October 29. If you usually take a Cercanías/Rodalies train to or from the airport, have a backup ready: a taxi, the airport bus or the metro where there is one.
- Check Renfe before you travel. Look up your train on renfe.com once national minimum services are published, and ask Renfe about changing or cancelling your ticket if your train isn’t on the list.
- Allow extra time with a standby flight. Plan to reach the airport in time for an earlier flight, since crowded replacement options can leave you short of time.
- Booked on Ouigo? Check your trains for October 30, November 2, 6 and 9, and December 4 and 8, especially around the long weekends.
- Check your insurance. Strikes that were announced before you bought a policy are often not covered.
Sources
- La Ciutat — La Generalitat fija los servicios mínimos para la huelga en Cercanías y Regionales del 29 de octubre
- El Demócrata — Los maquinistas de Renfe convocan una huelga de 24 horas el 29 de octubre
- Merca2 — Semaf convoca una huelga de maquinistas el 29 de octubre en Renfe y seis días de paros en Ouigo
- Madrid Información — Huelga de maquinistas de Renfe el 29 de octubre: trenes afectados y servicios mínimos
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