Railway workers in Spain have announced strikes and demonstrations in November as unions demand stronger safety measures following the Urda train disaster, which killed 69 people. Some action is confirmed, while a planned 17 November stoppage had not yet been formally called when it was announced.
The train drivers’ union SEMAF has called a full strike on 10 November and partial stoppages on 12 November. Separately, unions represented on rail infrastructure manager Adif’s general works committee agreed a protest outside the Spanish Congress on 16 November and a 24-hour strike for 17 November. The action could add to disruption already caused by the suspension of the Madrid–Andalucía high-speed railway.
When are the Spanish rail strikes planned?
- Tuesday 10 November: SEMAF has called a full-day strike among Renfe train drivers, from 00:01 to 23:59 local time.
- Thursday 12 November: SEMAF plans partial stoppages from 06:20 to 09:20, 14:20 to 17:20 and 21:20 to 23:20 local time.
- Monday 16 November: Adif unions plan a demonstration outside Spain’s Congress of Deputies in Madrid.
- Tuesday 17 November: Adif’s general works committee has agreed a 24-hour strike. RTVE reported on 3 November that it had not yet been formally registered, so its final status and operating arrangements could change.
The union SEMAF confirmed its 10 and 12 November strike call on 29 October. The timings were reported by Spanish news agency EFE. CCOO has confirmed the proposed Adif action and said it hopes unions at train operator Renfe will join. Renfe-wide participation in the 17 November action was not confirmed at the time of reporting.
Why are railway unions demanding changes?
The dispute did not begin with the Urda crash. SEMAF says an agreement reached with the Transport Ministry, Renfe and Adif in February was meant to deliver new operational safety procedures, but that negotiations and implementation subsequently stalled. Its demands include clearer instructions during equipment failures and emergencies, better communication and improvements to working conditions.
Renfe disputes the suggestion that it failed to meet its own commitments. According to Europa Press, the operator says it completed measures within its remit, while most of the outstanding measures depended on other authorities. SEMAF had already arranged a strike for 29 October, the day after the collision, and went ahead with it.
CCOO argues that dividing responsibility for the track and train operations has made effective coordination especially important when normal signalling or operating procedures fail. It is calling for a change to Spain’s railway management model. These are the unions’ policy positions, not findings by investigators into the Urda disaster.
Unions challenge leak of rail control recordings
A separate dispute concerns recordings of conversations between Adif’s Atocha railway control centre and train drivers involved in the collision. CCOO says it has filed a criminal complaint over the possible unlawful disclosure of the recordings. The union has also raised data-protection concerns with Adif and Spain’s data protection authority.
Another union, Alternativa Ferroviaria (Alferro), says it has referred allegations surrounding the disclosure to prosecutors, including an allegation concerning Transport Minister Óscar Puente. RTVE reported both unions’ actions on 3 November.
These are allegations, not established criminal offences. The origin of the leak and whether any law was broken have not been determined by a published court finding. The complaints must also be distinguished from the separate investigation into how the trains collided.
What is known about the Urda collision?
On 28 October, a Renfe AVE train struck the rear of a stationary Iryo train near Urda, in Toledo province, on the Madrid–Seville high-speed line. The provisional death toll stood at 69, and RTVE reported that all 69 victims had been identified by the evening of 2 November.
Investigators are examining a signalling-system failure and instructions given to train crews before the collision. No definitive investigative report has established the complete cause or assigned responsibility. Fish 4 News previously covered the control-centre decisions and subsequent changes to safety instructions.
What should passengers do?
As of 4 November, Adif continued to list high-speed services between Madrid and Andalucía as suspended because of the accident. It said the Madrid–Toledo and Málaga–Seville high-speed sections remained in operation. No firm date for reopening the disrupted through route was confirmed in that notice.
Passengers planning journeys on or around the strike dates should check their train operator’s latest service notices before travelling, even on routes away from the crash site. Reduced services, cancellations or timetable changes depend on the operator, applicable minimum-service arrangements and whether the further strike is formally registered.
Adif has also updated arrangements for families affected by the disaster. Its notice says the assistance centres in Córdoba and Seville are closed and the Madrid-Puerta de Atocha assistance point has moved to the station’s Sala de Autoridades. It lists family information numbers for Renfe (900 10 10 20) and Iryo (900 001 403).
Earlier Fish 4 News coverage
- Initial report: Two trains collide near Madrid
- Emergency response as the death toll rose
- Investigation into signalling and control-centre decisions
