On Friday a strike call by united workers in Renfe led to reduced high speed service, canceling eight of the forty high speed routes between Alicante and Madrid, with four trips in each direction affected throughout the Valencian Community. In total, fifteen Renfe trips to the capital were canceled. Renfe stated that all affected travelers were informed in advance and given options to travel on an alternative train as close as possible to their originally booked service. Ticket sales were paused during the cancellation period.
The Ministry of Transport issued minimum service requirements for the strikes. The plan designates a 75 percent service level for commuter trains during peak hours and 50 percent for the rest of the day. For medium distance routes the minimum is 65 percent, for long distance and high speed services it is 73 percent, and for commercial freight a 25 percent baseline applies.
A ministerial decision from the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility set the minimum mandatory services to guarantee the continuity of essential rail transport for passengers and goods ahead of the February 9 strike that was called by the CC OO trade union and its affiliates within the Renfe group.
Minimum services
The ministry’s decision outlines Renfe’s basic service levels as follows:
Environment: 75 percent during peak hours from 6:00 to 9:00, 13:30 to 15:30, and 18:30 to 20:30, with 50 percent for the remainder of the day.
Mid distance: 65 percent
AVE and long distance: 73 percent
Freight: 25 percent
In Catalonia, the Generalitat’s Ministry of Enterprise and Labor set essential services at 66 percent during peak hours from 06:00 to 09:30 and 17:00 to 20:30, and 33 percent for the rest of the day.
After-sales precautions
For travelers with AVE, long distance and medium distance Renfe trains not included in the basic services, specific after-sales measures are in place:
Whenever possible, passengers will be offered the option to travel on another train as soon as possible.
If a traveler prefers not to travel, tickets can be canceled or changed to another date without any fee. Cancellations or changes can be made through all Renfe sales channels.
Workers’ Commissions
The CC OO union is calling for a 35-hour work week for Renfe employees. Support rallies have taken place this week and there is continued emphasis on meeting agreed issues from the CC OO Railway Sector across public companies. A 24-hour strike call is also envisioned to address income categories within the Renfe Group.
CC OO Railway Sector General Secretary Pepa Paez Paez highlighted that the strike day stems from two distinct circumstances. He noted a negative report from the Ministry of Transport regarding Adif’s working hours, while there is no such negative report regarding Renfe entry categories. He also mentioned ongoing efforts to secure public approval, and while not yet final, the situation appears cautiously positive. These remarks reflect ongoing CC OO support for the strike a day after the initial call.