Nov. 17 Rail Strike Widens to Renfe, Iryo and Ouigo Across Spain
Spain's Nov. 17 rail strike now covers Renfe, Iryo and Ouigo as well as Adif, with more stoppages on Nov. 10, 12 and 19. Dates, demands and what is known.
A 24-hour rail strike planned in Spain for Tuesday, Nov. 17, has grown from a walkout at Adif (the state company that manages Spain’s rail infrastructure) into action that also reaches Renfe, the state train operator, and the private high-speed operators Iryo and Ouigo, Euro Weekly News reported. A second 24-hour stoppage at Adif is called for Nov. 19.
For passengers, that adds two more disrupted days to the train drivers’ strikes already set for Nov. 10 and Nov. 12. Minimum services for Nov. 17 and Nov. 19 had not been published as of the latest reports.
Who has joined the Nov. 17 strike
The original call came from Adif’s General Works Council, which groups five unions: CCOO, UGT, CGT, Sindicato Ferroviario (SF) and Sindicato de Circulación Ferroviario (SCF). It was announced on Nov. 3.
Since then, CCOO has extended its call to workers at Renfe, Iryo and Ouigo. The works councils of Adif and Renfe are now involved, along with CCOO’s union sections at the two private operators. Renfe’s General Works Council has also started the formal labour-conflict procedure, a required step before a strike.
Semaf, the train drivers’ union, has asked drivers at eight railway companies to take part on Nov. 17. Alferro, another union, moved its own stoppages from Nov. 10 and 12 to Nov. 17 so it could join the wider action. CSIF has said it supports the protests and will back strikes and demonstrations at Adif and Renfe. How many workers at each operator will actually stop work has not been established.
The Urda crash behind the demands
The dispute follows the Oct. 28 collision near Urda, in which a Renfe AVE high-speed train hit an Iryo train that had stopped on the track. The crash killed 69 people. The investigation into its cause is separate from the unions’ demands.
CCOO argues that splitting infrastructure management from train operations has weakened coordination and safety procedures, especially where several operators share the same tracks. The union wants a public group of railway companies to bring the two sides closer again. Its list also includes better communication between control centres and operators, stronger safety protocols, enough staff on services and better-trained employees.
SCF called its strikes for Nov. 17 and Nov. 19 after talks under the labour-conflict procedure ended without agreement. It is asking for more staff in traffic control centres and stations and for changes to technical instructions that it says affect safe train operation.
What it means for train travel in November
Rail users in Spain now face several separate strike dates in one month, each called by different unions:
- Nov. 10: Semaf keeps its call for a full strike at Renfe.
- Nov. 12: Semaf plans partial stoppages at Renfe.
- Nov. 17: the 24-hour strike at Adif, Renfe, Iryo and Ouigo, with Semaf, Alferro and CSIF support.
- Nov. 19: a second 24-hour SCF stoppage at Adif.
Semaf’s drivers want progress on safety, a review of driving times and clearer rules for issuing warnings in bad weather.
Because Adif runs the tracks that all companies use, a strike there can affect trains from any operator, while strikes by drivers and other operator staff hit individual services directly. Renfe, Iryo and Ouigo are expected to publish cancellations, timetable changes and minimum services once these are set.
Protest in Madrid and the next union meeting
The Adif unions have also called a demonstration outside the Congreso de los Diputados (Spain’s lower house of parliament) in Madrid on Monday, Nov. 16, the day before the main walkout, to press politicians on rail safety and how the sector is organised. Adif’s General Works Council will meet again on Nov. 18 to review the situation and decide whether more action is needed.
Source: Euro Weekly News
