Spain: Renfe Drivers Strike as Madrid–Andalusia High-Speed Line Stays Shut After Urda Crash

Update to our October 28 report on the Urda train collision and the Renfe drivers’ strike.

October 29, 2026 — Spain’s train drivers went ahead with their 24-hour strike at Renfe on Thursday, one day after the high-speed collision near Urda (Toledo). The Madrid–Andalusia high-speed line is still closed with no reopening date, and several operators have stopped selling tickets on the route for weeks.

The strike: what happened Thursday

• Who: the Semaf train drivers’ union, which called the strike on October 16 over rail safety, emergency weather protocols and driver hiring. It decided to keep the strike after the crash.
• When: 24 hours, starting just after midnight on Thursday, October 29.
• Minimum services set by the Ministry of Transport: 73% for high-speed and long-distance, 65% for medium-distance, 75% for Cercanías commuter trains at peak hours and 50% at other times, and 26% for freight.
• Madrid commuter rail: Cercanías lines C-1, C-3, C-4 and C-8 were suspended, and C-2, C-5, C-7 and C-10 faced heavy delays, according to CLM24. Renfe advised passengers not to travel.
• Next: Semaf’s six strike days at Ouigo begin Friday, October 30, as we reported on October 27. Semaf says it is studying further measures at Renfe (dates TBA).

Madrid–Andalusia high-speed line: still closed

• Casualties: Spanish media report 68 to 69 deaths in Wednesday’s collision between a Renfe AVE and an Iryo train.
• Line status: closed all day Thursday, including Barcelona and Valencia trains to Seville and Málaga. The crash zone is closed by court order. Adif must remove the trains and assess the track before it can reopen. Reopening date: TBA.
• Ticket sales: Renfe has paused sales on affected services until December 13; El Español notes this is a booking horizon, not a confirmed closure date. Iryo shows no Málaga–Madrid seats until late November. Ouigo has suspended Madrid–Andalusia trains at least until Monday, November 2, and its site shows Málaga–Madrid unavailable until November 9.
• Refunds: changes and cancellations are free for Renfe and Iryo tickets.

Alternatives reported by Spanish media

Separately, a fault on a Ouigo train interrupted Madrid–Levante high-speed service between Valdemoro and Villarrubia de Santiago on Thursday.

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What it means for airline travelers

• Plan on flying, driving or taking the bus between Madrid and Seville, Córdoba or Málaga for at least the next few weeks. The line has no reopening date.
• Standby seats Madrid–Andalusia will be tight. Displaced rail passengers are filling the extra flights. Check loads before you list, consider a less busy day or time, and have a backup.
• Connecting through Madrid? If you planned to take the AVE from Barajas to the south, build in an extra day and have a bus or confirmed flight as backup.
• Ouigo travelers: check your train number against Ouigo’s cancellation list for October 30 and November 2.
• Change tickets online, through the Renfe, Iryo or Ouigo website or app, rather than queuing at stations.
• Travel insurance: if you booked hotels or tours in Andalusia that depended on the train, check whether your policy covers transport disruption, and contact the providers early.
• US citizens can enroll in STEP, and Canadians in Registration of Canadians Abroad, to receive embassy alerts.

Sources

• Público — Los maquinistas de Renfe inician la huelga un día después del accidente de Urda
• CLM24 — Trenes Madrid-Andalucía hoy: AVE suspendido y huelga en Renfe
• El Español — La alta velocidad entre Málaga y Madrid, en el aire
• The Local Spain — Spain’s train drivers maintain Thursday strike following deadly crash
• Rus Tourism News — Ouigo Strike in Spain: 22 Trains Canceled, Six Dates Confirmed