October 26, 2026 — Update: Spain’s Transport Ministry has set minimum services for Thursday’s 24-hour Renfe train drivers’ strike. About three in four high-speed and long-distance trains should still run, but up to half of commuter trains could be cancelled outside rush hours. Separately, a riot in central Barcelona on Saturday night briefly closed Catalunya station.
Renfe drivers’ strike — Thursday, October 29
The train drivers’ union Semaf has called a 24-hour strike across the Renfe group. Semaf says talks have broken down and earlier agreements are stuck. Its demands include safety protocols for severe weather, hiring more drivers, rolling-stock reliability, driving-time limits and earlier retirement rules. Renfe says many of these issues are outside its control. Exact start and end times have not been published (TBA).
| Service | Minimum service |
|---|---|
| AVE and long distance | 73% |
| Media Distancia (regional) | 65% |
| Cercanías (commuter) | 50%, rising to 75% from 6:00–9:00, 13:30–15:30 and 18:30–20:30 |
| Freight | 26% |
Reports did not include Renfe’s refund or rebooking terms or a separate figure for Catalonia’s Rodalies (TBA).
Barcelona disturbance
On the evening of Saturday, October 24, an unauthorized gathering promoted on social media turned violent around Plaça de Catalunya. Catalan police (Mossos d’Esquadra) arrested 128 people, 72 of them minors; 15 officers were hurt and 23 businesses were damaged or looted. Catalunya station was temporarily restricted and some trains skipped it, and nearby bus routes were diverted. The Metro station reopened early on Sunday and buses returned to normal overnight. There is no verified report of any impact on Barcelona–El Prat Airport, and no new gathering has been announced.
What it means for airline travelers
- If you are taking a train from an airport on Thursday, check that your train is in the minimum-service timetable before you land. Commuter lines will be the hardest hit outside peak hours.
- For Madrid or Barcelona airport connections on Thursday, have a taxi, bus or metro backup ready.
- Flying standby to Spain to catch a long-distance train? Most AVE services should run, but they may be full — consider booking early.
- In Barcelona, steer clear of large crowds around Plaça de Catalunya, especially at night.
- Contact Renfe about changing or refunding tickets for cancelled trains.
Sources
- El Diario de Madrid — “Huelga de Renfe el 29 de octubre: Cercanías tendrá servicios mínimos del 50% y del 75% en hora punta” (Oct. 26, 2026): eldiariodemadrid.es
- Madrid Actual — “Servicios mínimos para huelga de maquinistas del 29” (Oct. 26, 2026): madridactual.es
- Russian Tourism News — “Barcelona Protests Turn Violent as 128 Arrested and Shops Looted Near Tourist Hotspot” (Oct. 25, 2026): rustourismnews.com
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