This is a week of planned strikes by rail workers at Renfe (trains) and Adif (tracks) with the number of Cercanías commuter trains reduced by half between 07:00 and 09:00 on lines in the Madrid region.
High-speed AVE services have also been reduced by 25%. In Cataluña, the Rodalies regional network has fixed minimum services at 66% during the 06:00 and 09:00 and 17:00 to 20:30 rush hour periods, with a 33% service during the rest of the day.
The strike has been called by the CGT labour union and the Federal Rail Workers Union in protest at plans to break up the two nationalized railway companies into smaller units.
As usual, figures relating to participation in the industrial action vary wildly. Renfe put adherence to the stoppage on Monday at 3% while the unions claimed 70% of workers had heeded the strike call. Quite close.
The stoppages are scheduled for the same time periods on Tuesday and Wednesday, with a full 24-hour strike planned for Thursday, the day before the Todos Santos national holiday. Further strikes have been planned for November 4th, 8th, 11th, 15th, 18th, 22nd, 25th and 29th, with additional 24-hour stoppages on December 5th and 20th.
The Ministry of Public Works has fixed minimum services of 72% on AVE long-distance services.
Madrid’s Cercanías network will only guarantee a 50% service for most of the day, rising to 75% in rush hours. For medium-distance journeys, 63% of normal services are expected to run.
Anyone travelling during this period, particularly medium or long distance, is advised to check the Renfe website when buying tickets.