The Renfe strike coverage for this Friday shows a low level of disruption, with minimal services largely preserved as required by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility. Early reports indicate that monitoring stood at just over three percent, and sources within Renfe described the day as operating with normal traffic flow. Commuter trains continued to run with the public operator’s teams confirming a typical schedule throughout the strike period, which began at midnight and was not expected to conclude until the end of the day.
At issue are demands to remove entry categories within Renfe, alongside calls tied to the Adif umbrella. The Railway Circulation Union (SCF) has highlighted the push for a 35-hour, weekly working pattern across Adif’s staff as a core objective. The broader stoppage reflects a blend of union claims and operational concerns that have prompted rail workers to participate while maintaining critical services for the traveling public.
The Adif works council, representing unions UGT, CGT, SCF, and SF, plans targeted industrial actions. A general strike has been scheduled from 10:00 to 12:00 on the 12th, 19th, and 26th of February, with partial actions on the 13th and 20th, extending into February 27 from 01:00 to 03:00. These time windows are designed to minimize passenger impact while signaling workers’ bargaining positions during the ongoing negotiations.
The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has issued specific service baselines for this Friday. Cercanías networks are expected to operate at 75% during peak periods, namely 06:00–09:00, 13:30–15:30, and 18:30–20:30, with a 50% service level for the remainder of the day. This framework aims to balance demand with the need to maintain essential rail flow across urban and peri-urban corridors.
Across the network, intermediate and long-distance operations are projected to be more constrained. Medium-distance services are forecast to reach around 65%, while high-speed AVE and long-distance trains are anticipated to maintain approximately 73% of their usual operations. Commercial services will face tighter limits, with a cap near 25% during the strike window, reflecting the push to preserve critical routes while accommodating workers’ actions.
In Catalonia, the Generalitat’s Department of Enterprise and Labour reported essential service levels for Rodalies de Catalunya. During peak hours, essential services reached roughly 66%, and about 33% for the rest of the day, mirroring a careful approach to keep commuter flows moving in a high-demand region without escalating disruption across the broader system.
For travelers holding AVE, long-distance, or medium-distance tickets that are affected by cancellations, Renfe has indicated that passengers can be rebooked onto the next available train when possible. If alternative travel is not feasible, passengers have the option to cancel their tickets or change travel dates without incurring fees. These measures are intended to provide flexibility during the strike period while safeguarding passenger rights and investment already made.