Update — Ouigo strike dates added; minimum services for Thursday’s Renfe strike were in our Oct. 26 report.
October 27, 2026 — Update: Spain’s high-speed rail disruption won’t end with Thursday’s Renfe drivers’ strike. Low-cost high-speed operator Ouigo faces strikes on October 30 and November 2, followed by partial stoppages into December. Renfe said on Monday that the drivers’ union is asking for things beyond its authority, so no deal is in sight before Thursday.
Strike calendar
| Date | Operator | Strike |
|---|---|---|
| Thu Oct. 29 | Renfe | 24 hours (Semaf train drivers’ union) |
| Fri Oct. 30 | Ouigo | 24 hours |
| Mon Nov. 2 | Ouigo | 24 hours |
| Thu Nov. 6 | Ouigo | Partial: 6 a.m.–noon and 6 p.m.–11:59 p.m. |
| Mon Nov. 9 | Ouigo | Partial: 6 a.m.–noon and 6 p.m.–11:59 p.m. |
| Thu Dec. 4 | Ouigo | Partial, hours TBA |
| Mon Dec. 8 | Ouigo | Partial, hours TBA |
Who and why
Semaf says Renfe and the Transport Ministry haven’t put in place safety measures agreed earlier this year. Renfe replied on Monday that many of the demands already exist and others fall outside its powers. The Local reports that Semaf also accuses Ouigo of breaking its collective agreement on working hours, shifts, breaks and overtime; the union calling the Ouigo strikes was not named in the report reviewed. Ouigo says it complies with its 2024 agreement and is willing to keep negotiating.
Routes affected
Ouigo runs high-speed trains to and from 15 cities: Madrid, Barcelona, Tarragona, Valencia, Alicante, Elche, Zaragoza, Albacete, Cuenca, Valladolid, Segovia, Murcia, Seville, Málaga and Córdoba. Minimum service levels for the Ouigo strikes had not been published in the report reviewed (TBA). For Thursday, the ministry has ordered Renfe to run 73% of AVE and Avlo trains, 65% of medium-distance trains, 75% of Cercanías commuter trains at peak times (50% at other times) and 66% of Rodalies trains in Catalonia at peak times (33% at other times).
What it means for airline travelers
- If you’re planning to fly into Madrid or Barcelona and continue by high-speed train between October 29 and November 2, check your train on the Renfe or Ouigo website or app before you fly.
- If your train is cancelled, the operator must offer a free switch to another train or a full refund.
- Backups include ALSA long-distance buses or a rental car. A domestic flight is another option, but standby seats on Madrid–Barcelona and other trunk routes will be harder to get on strike days as rail passengers switch to air.
- Strikes on Ouigo continue into December, so check again before any Ouigo trip in November and December.
Sources
- The Local Spain — What to know about Spain’s upcoming train strikes this autumn (citing Renfe, Ouigo, Semaf and the Ministry of Transport)
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