HUNDREDS of rail services across Spain are set to be disrupted this week after unions announced a nationwide 24-hour strike.
Around 328 medium-distance, high-speed and long-distance services are expected to be cancelled on Wednesday, July 15, according to the national railway union Sindicato Ferroviario.
The strike, which follows a previous walkout on June 29, comes as workers protest planned railway reforms that unions say would undermine workers’ rights and breach previous agreements with the government.
According to Spain’s Ministry of Transport, 94 high-speed and long-distance services and 234 medium-distance services will be affected.
However, the majority of trains will continue to operate, with around 73% of high-speed and long-distance services and 65% of medium-distance routes remaining in service.
The disruption is expected to affect major rail corridors across Spain, particularly those serving Madrid, Asturias, Cantabria, Galicia, Castilla y Leon, Sevilla, Cadiz, Malaga, Valencia, Murcia and Zaragoza.
Passengers affected by cancellations are advised to check Renfe’s website or app before travelling, as services may change at short notice.
The dispute centres on an agreement reached in November 2023, when unions called off planned strikes after the government pledged to protect jobs and preserve the structure of Spain’s state-owned railway companies during planned reforms.
Unions now argue those commitments have been broken, claiming the government is pushing ahead with changes that threaten workers’ rights and weaken Renfe’s public freight division through restructuring and greater private-sector involvement.
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