Rodalies Minimum Services Set at 25% to 66% for Nov. 10-12 Strikes
Rodalies will run 25% to 66% of its usual trains on Nov. 10, 11 and 12 during two Semaf drivers' strikes and a general strike. See the hours for each day.
Rodalies, the commuter rail network around Barcelona, will run between 25% and 66% of its usual trains on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week. Two strikes by train drivers and a nationwide general strike fall on three consecutive days, and Wednesday, Nov. 11, is the hardest hit: only 25% of trains are guaranteed at peak times and none at all for the rest of the day, according to Catalan public broadcaster 3Cat.
The minimum service levels apply on Nov. 10, 11 and 12. Renfe, the state rail operator that runs Rodalies, is telling passengers to plan journeys in advance and to check timetables and service status before they leave, because normal frequencies may change.
Tuesday, Nov. 10: first drivers’ strike
The first stoppage is called by Semaf (the train drivers’ union) and covers Renfe’s driving staff for the whole day. In the morning and evening rush hours, 66% of normal trains must run. Outside those peak windows the guaranteed level drops to 33% of the usual service.
Wednesday, Nov. 11: 24-hour general strike
A 24-hour general strike is planned across Spain on Wednesday. On Rodalies, the minimum service is 25%, and it only covers the busiest periods: one window in the morning and another running from late afternoon into the evening. Between those windows there is no guaranteed service, so riders who travel at midday or late at night may find no trains at all.
Thursday, Nov. 12: second Semaf strike
Semaf drivers stop work again on Thursday. From 6.20 to 9.20 a.m., 66% of trains are set to run. Later in the day, two windows get 33% of normal service: from 14.20 to 17.20, and from 21.20 to 23.20.
Outside those hours, trains will return gradually. Renfe has warned that the stoppages could still cause operational limits, so service may not be back to normal right away.
What it means for commuters
For anyone who relies on Rodalies to get into Barcelona or between nearby towns, the week brings three days of reduced and uneven service. The pattern changes each day. On Tuesday and Thursday the deepest cuts come outside rush hour, when only a third of trains are protected. On Wednesday the cut is much sharper: a quarter of trains during peaks, and no guarantee in the hours between them.
Timetables published for a normal weekday will not match what actually runs. Renfe says it will try to limit the disruption across all three days and will post updates through the usual Rodalies channels.
Why the drivers are striking
The walkouts come during a period of tension between Renfe and its drivers. An agreement between the company and the majority union broke down, which led to changes in timetables and in drivers’ shifts. According to 3Cat, that situation had already contributed to operational incidents on the network over the weekend.
Source: 3Cat 324
