November 10, 2026 — Update: Spain’s three days of rail and general-strike disruption began on Tuesday, and the first day was rough. A 24-hour strike by Renfe train drivers cancelled commuter and high-speed trains in Madrid, Barcelona and Málaga, and airport operator Aena warned travelers heading to Madrid and Barcelona airports to expect delays. Wednesday brings a nationwide general strike, followed by more Renfe stoppages on Thursday.
What changed since our last story: on Nov. 9 we reported the planned dates and minimum services. The drivers’ strike is now under way, and the first reports show trains cancelled even where minimum services were ordered. No strike has been called off. The drivers’ union SEMAF says it will not stand down without firm, verifiable safety commitments, and talks with the government have so far failed.
Tuesday, Nov. 10: what happened
- Madrid: Cercanías commuter lines C2, C3, C4, C5 and C8 did not run early in the morning. Cadena SER reported that only one train had passed through Atocha after more than an hour, according to The Olive Press.
- Barcelona and Catalonia: 14 of the 25 Rodalies trains due at 06:00 did not leave. By 09:30 just over half of services had been cancelled, against a peak-time minimum of 66%. The Catalan government put 67 replacement buses on the road.
- Málaga: about 10 commuter trains were reported cancelled. The C1 Málaga–Fuengirola line, which also serves Málaga airport, was the worst hit.
- High-speed: several Madrid–Barcelona AVE trains were cancelled from first thing, and the 08:15 Euromed from Barcelona to Valencia left without a driver, El Periódico reported.
- Airports: Aena warned passengers travelling to Madrid and Barcelona airports to expect delays.
- Renfe urged passengers to use other transport and has a web page where travelers can download a certificate showing their journey was disrupted.
The rest of the week and beyond
| Date | Action | Who / minimum service |
|---|---|---|
| Wed. Nov. 11 | 24-hour nationwide general strike | Called by CCOO and UGT over housing costs and wages. Rail minimums reported: 75% of peak commuter trains, 65% of medium-distance, 73% of high-speed and long-distance. |
| Thu. Nov. 12 | Renfe drivers’ partial stoppages: 06:20–09:20, 14:20–17:20 and 21:20–23:20 | SEMAF. Minimum services: TBA. |
| Mon. Nov. 16 | Adif workers’ protest at Congress, Madrid | Adif staff |
| Tue. Nov. 17 | 24-hour rail strike, passenger and freight | Renfe and Adif works councils; SEMAF drivers at Renfe, Iryo, Transfesa, Continental Rail, Tracción Rail, Captrain and Medway. Minimum services: TBA. |
The low-cost operator Ouigo has withdrawn its own staff stoppages planned for Nov. 6 and 9 and Dec. 4 and 8, Demócrata reported, but that does not affect the other unions’ strikes.
The disputes follow the Oct. 28 crash at Urda (Toledo). SEMAF says a February safety agreement has been ignored. Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo has temporarily taken over the transport portfolio, and meetings with the union have ended without a deal. Spain holds an election on Nov. 29.
What it means for airline travelers
- Do not count on the train to the airport this week. Leave much more time to reach Madrid-Barajas, Barcelona-El Prat and Málaga, and have a taxi, ride-share or bus fallback ready. Other public transport may also be affected by the general strike on Nov. 11.
- Nov. 11 is the day to avoid if you can. Flights as well as trains may be disrupted during the general strike, so open seats will be scarce and missed connections hard to recover. If you are flying standby, try to travel before Tuesday night or after Thursday.
- Thursday’s stoppages hit the morning and evening peaks. If you are connecting from a flight to a train on Nov. 12, plan around the 06:20–09:20, 14:20–17:20 and 21:20–23:20 windows.
- Check Renfe before you travel and download the disruption certificate if your trip is affected; it can help with insurance claims. Under EU rail rules a cancelled train entitles you to ask for a refund or alternative transport, though delay compensation is not always due during strikes.
- Check whether your travel insurance covers strikes that were announced before you bought it; many policies do not.
Sources
- The Olive Press — Warning for travellers heading to airports across Spain as train drivers’ strike causes chaos in Malaga, Madrid and Barcelona (Nov. 10, 2026)
- Demócrata — Las huelgas ferroviarias se extienden en noviembre con Renfe, Iryo y Adif entre las afectadas (Nov. 6, 2026)
- Renfe — Official site and service updates
- Aena — Official airport information
Get NonRev Travel News by email
A weekly recap newsletter, sent out every Sunday, with the airline, airport, cruise and travel-warning news that matters to airline employees and retirees. Free.
Subscribe free
