The Semaf strike at Renfe called for Thursday 29 October is causing significant cancellations and service withdrawals within the declared minimum services, with a particularly severe impact on Cercanías Madrid and Rodalies Catalunya.
Renfe has just updated the figures for the strike’s impact. According to the state-owned operator, during the night shift, participation among staff eligible to take part in the stoppage reached 2.19%, while during the morning shift it stood at 15.16%.
The strike affects driving staff across all companies in the Renfe group and runs for 24 hours, from 00:01 to 23:59. Semaf is demanding structural improvements to railway safety, binding protocols for weather alerts, improved rolling stock reliability and compliance with commitments reached with the Ministry of Transport, Adif and the State Railway Safety Agency.
Open-access services
In open-access Services — AVE, Avlo, Alvia, Euromed and Intercity — Renfe has recorded the withdrawal of 12.5% of scheduled minimum services: six out of 48 planned services. The greatest impact is concentrated on the Levante corridor, where 22.2% of high-speed trains and 20% of Euromed services have been cancelled. On the Norte corridor, the impact has centred on Alvia services, with one of 11 services withdrawn, equivalent to 9.1% of the scheduled service.
Affected routes include major connections such as Madrid–Barcelona, Madrid–Figueras, Madrid–Valencia and Castellón–Madrid. Services originating in or bound for Pamplona, A Coruña, Vigo, Lugo, Gijón, Alicante, León and Burgos have also been disrupted.
The minimum services set by the Ministry of Transport for high-speed and long-distance services require 73% of normal trains to run, while an average of 65% is guaranteed in regional services and 26% of freight traffic.
Cercanías and Rodalies worst affected
The impact is particularly severe in Public Services, covering Cercanías, Rodalies, Avant and regional services. Renfe reports that 17.04% of minimum services have been withdrawn and 28.64% of trains have failed to depart.
In Cercanías Madrid, 48.29% of minimum services have been withdrawn and 33.17% did not enter service. This has resulted in the suspension of all services on lines C-1, C-2, C-4 and C-8. In Rodalies Catalunya, although withdrawals stand at 4.61%, the proportion of services failing to depart rises to 48.85%, reflecting a very high impact on operations across the Catalan network. However, services are operating on all lines.
Significant disruption is also being recorded in Andalusia, with 29.41% of services failing to depart and 7.84% withdrawn. Extremadura has the second-highest proportion of withdrawn services, at 22.22%, while in the eastern zone cancellations reach 11.48% and services failing to depart 13.93%.
Minimum service levels for Cercanías had been set at 75% of normal service during peak periods — 06:00–09:00, 13:30–15:30 and 18:30–20:30 — and 50% for the remainder of the day.
Free changes and cancellations
Renfe has introduced free changes and cancellations for tickets on services scheduled during the strike day and advises passengers not to travel where possible. The operator says passengers with affected trains will receive relevant information by SMS or email, using the contact details associated with the booking.
The company respects its staff’s right to strike, although it regrets the disruption the stoppage may cause passengers. The situation comes in a particularly sensitive context for railway operations, following the accident at Urda (Toledo).