Renfe drivers strike today, a day after the Urda crash: minimum services
Semaf kept its 24-hour strike in the Renfe group on 29 October. Minimum services: 73% on AVE and long distance, up to 75% on commuter lines at peak times.
By the TrainsNews newsroom · 29 October 2026, information as of 11:00 CET
Train drivers across Spain's Renfe group are on a 24-hour strike today, Thursday 29 October, one day after the high-speed collision near Urda (Toledo). The Semaf union kept the walkout in place despite the crash. The Ministry of Transport has set minimum services of 73% on high-speed and long-distance routes and up to 75% on commuter lines at peak times.
Minimum services
The levels below were set by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility and published by Renfe:
- Cercanías (commuter trains): 75% of the usual service at peak times (06:00–09:00, 13:30–15:30 and 18:30–20:30), 50% for the rest of the day.
- Media Distancia (regional): 65% on average.
- AVE and long distance: 73% on average.
- Freight: 26% of scheduled services.
The strike runs from 00:01 to 23:59. Renfe says it guarantees the trains included in the minimum services and apologises for the disruption. The high-speed line between Madrid and Andalusia remains closed after Wednesday's accident, whatever the strike.
Why Semaf kept the strike
Semaf, the main Spanish train drivers' union, called the strike on 16 October, before the crash. On Wednesday it confirmed that the stoppage would go ahead, sent its condolences to the victims and asked for caution about the causes of the accident, according to Demócrata. The union says safety, staffing and maintenance commitments are still blocked, including emergency protocols for extreme weather, coordination of communications, hiring and rolling stock reliability. Renfe replies that it has met the commitments within its remit under the February agreement.
The call covers drivers of the Renfe group only. Iryo and Ouigo are separate companies.
The Urda crash
On Wednesday morning, Renfe AVE 2080 from Madrid to Seville struck the rear of Iryo train 6076, which was stopped on the same line near Urda. The death toll stood at 69 on Thursday morning, according to the president of Castilla-La Mancha, Emiliano García-Page. Transport Minister Óscar Puente said the AVE had been cleared by Adif's control centre in Madrid to resume running at normal speed after a signalling failure, while the section ahead was occupied. He called the decision "inexplicable". Our first report: AVE and Iryo trains collide near Toledo.
If you are travelling
Check whether your train runs on Renfe's website or app before going to the station. Rights to a refund or a change of ticket depend on the operator's conditions. For the route itself, our Madrid to Seville train guide lists the operators on the line, but services on the line are currently suspended.
Sources: Renfe (minimum services set by the Ministry of Transport); Semaf and Renfe statements via Demócrata (28 October 2026); death toll and minister's account via elDiario.es (29 October 2026). Information as of 11:00 CET.
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