Spanish Train-Drivers’ Union SEMAF Calls 24-Hour National Strike for 29 October

The Spanish train-drivers’ union SEMAF has announced a 24-hour stoppage across all Renfe subsidiaries on 29 October, citing what it calls a “bureaucratic blockade” of previously signed safety and staffing agreements. The industrial action will begin at 00:01 and end at 23:59, potentially paralysing long-distance AVE high-speed services, Cercanías commuter lines in major cities and key freight corridors just as Spain heads into a long ‘puente’ weekend around All Saints’ Day. SEMAF accuses the Ministry of Transport, Renfe, infrastructure manager Adif and the Spanish Railway Safety Agency of dragging their feet on protocols covering extreme-weather operations, cab communications and post-incident support for drivers involved in track-fatalities. The union also wants faster recruitment of 600 new drivers to offset retirements and a legal mechanism that allows employees with safety-critical roles to retire earlier. For corporate mobility teams, the strike threatens to disrupt staff commutes in Madrid and Barcelona and to derail popular rail-air connection itineraries—particularly the high-speed ‘air bridges’ used by consulting, legal and tech professionals travelling between client sites. In the last nationwide strike in March 2026, Renfe was forced to cancel 85 % of AVE departures despite minimum-service decrees. Airlines such as Iberia and Air Europa reported a 17 % spike in last-minute domestic bookings, driving up average fares by more than 30 %. Renfe says it “has met all commitments” and will publish contingency timetables once the Ministry sets compulsory minimum services—normally covering 75 % of long-distance and 50 % of commuter trains. Mobility managers should alert travelling staff, book refundable tickets, and consider flexible work-from-home arrangements for 28-30 October. Companies moving equipment or samples by rail freight should also explore road or air alternatives. If no agreement is reached, SEMAF warns that further 48-hour strikes could follow in November. The dispute underscores the fragility of Spain’s post-pandemic transport recovery and the knock-on effects industrial action can have on domestic mobility and cross-border supply chains.