Spanish train drivers’ union maintains strike after rail accident
SEMAF is pressing ahead with the announced 24-hour strike and says it is demanding structural safety improvements.
Follow-up to: Spain train crash: 68 dead, minister calls continuing ‘inexplicable’ Wednesday, 28 October 2026, 17:40
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Spain’s train drivers’ union SEMAF is continuing its strike at Renfe on Thursday, despite the train accident on the high-speed line between Madrid and Andalusia. The union says the action concerns rail safety and earlier agreements on improvements.
SEMAF confirmed on Wednesday that the strike would go ahead on Thursday 29 October. The union expressed its condolences to the victims of the accident on the Madrid–Seville line, but also said that the precise circumstances had not yet been established and that speculation should be avoided.
The strike had been announced earlier. According to Renfe, it is a 24-hour action by train drivers. The rail operator calls the strike unjustified and says some of the demands concern matters on which Renfe cannot decide independently, such as rules on driving and rest periods and certain labour-inspection matters.
Minimum services have been established for passengers. Renfe reports that an average of 73 per cent of scheduled services will continue to operate on high-speed and long-distance routes. The average for medium-distance services is 65 per cent. The percentages for commuter trains vary by time period; a higher minimum applies during the busiest hours than at other times.
SEMAF links the action to rail safety and to the implementation of agreements made after an earlier accident. Among other things, the union says it is seeking attention to procedures during adverse weather, communication in high-risk situations, the recruitment of train drivers and the reliability of rolling stock. Renfe, for its part, says it has fulfilled the obligations within its remit.
The new accident may make the strike more politically and socially sensitive, but in itself it does not prove that the problems cited by the union caused the accident. The cause of the collision has not yet been established. The investigation must determine whether additional safety measures are needed.
For travellers from the Netherlands, the immediate impact is mainly practical: train services in Spain may be cancelled on Thursday or run to an amended timetable. The wider significance lies in the debate over responsibility on a railway network where infrastructure managers, operators, regulators and the government have different roles. The strike shows that these responsibilities are once again a source of conflict after a serious accident.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- SEMAF is holding a strike at Renfe on 29 October.
- Minimum percentages have been established for various train services.
- The cause of the train accident has not been established in the sources consulted.
- The union and Renfe disagree over responsibility for the measures being demanded.
Left
Arguments Safety and staff should take precedence over maximum train availability. A strike can put pressure on operators and the government to address structural problems with schedules, communication and rolling stock.
Values Workers’ rights, public safety, strong trade unions and the protection of employees and passengers.
Consequences Passengers and businesses may experience temporary disruption, but in this view delaying safety measures could cause greater social costs.
Centre
Arguments An independent investigation must establish the facts first. At the same time, existing safety agreements must demonstrably be implemented and the government must ensure that enough trains run during the strike.
Values Factual accuracy, continuity of public services and proportionate responsibility.
Consequences The approach combines minimum services with verifiable improvement plans and prevents the accident from being treated solely as a labour dispute.
Right
Arguments The continuity of rail services and the operator’s responsibility must remain clear. A strike shortly after an accident must not be used to enforce demands beyond Renfe’s remit.
Values Responsibility, order, affordability and the protection of passengers and the economy.
Consequences The emphasis is on statutory minimum services, swift decision-making and limiting disruption while the investigation is under way.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The current strike, the minimum services and the interruption to the railway line have been confirmed by the union, the operator and the infrastructure manager. The article makes no unsubstantiated causal link between the demands behind the strike and the accident.
- confirmed SEMAF is maintaining the strike for 29 October. — Europa Press quotes the union’s confirmation. source
- confirmed The strike lasts 24 hours. — Renfe describes a 24-hour strike. source
- confirmed An average minimum service of 73 per cent applies to high-speed and long-distance trains. — This percentage appears in Renfe’s publication. source
- confirmed The Madrid–Andalusia high-speed line was interrupted by a collision. — Adif reports the interruption and names the connection involved. source
- confirmed The cause of the accident has not yet been established. — The current sources consulted report no established cause; Europa Press warns against speculation. source
Editor's note
It is certain that SEMAF is maintaining the strike and that minimum services have been established. The cause of the accident and any connection between the accident and the demands behind the strike have not yet been established.Sources
The story so far
- Wednesday, 28 October 2026, 10:26 High-speed trains collide in Spain, line suspended
- Wednesday, 28 October 2026, 17:40 Spain train crash: 68 dead, minister calls continuing ‘inexplicable’
- Wednesday, 28 October 2026, 20:23 Spanish train drivers’ union maintains strike after rail accident (this article)
More on this in Dutch media
- de Volkskrant — „spanje spoorwegen”
- RTL Nieuws — „spanje spoorwegen”
- NOS — „spanje spoorwegen”