Spanish train drivers launched a strike on November 10, 2026, demanding increased investment in maintenance and safety following two deadly train crashes on the Madrid-Seville high-speed line this year. The strike affected operators including Renfe, Iryo, and Adif, halting services nationwide.
Service Disruptions and Passenger Impact
Renfe cancelled 40% of its long- and medium-distance train services on the day of the strike, impacting 4,042 passengers across Spain. Madrid’s commuter network experienced severe disruptions with 90% of trains cancelled. Five commuter rail lines in Madrid were completely non-operational and three were partially running. In Barcelona, 50% of local train services were cancelled.
Commuters in Leganes, near
Madrid, relied heavily on buses to reach the city center due to the suspended train services. In Catalonia, the regional operator Rodalies reported delays stemming from failure to meet minimum service standards. At Masnou station on the outskirts of Barcelona, few passengers waited amid the intermittent service schedule.
Background of Fatal Crashes and Safety Talks
The strike followed two fatal collisions on the Madrid-Seville high-speed rail line in 2026. The most recent crash on October 28 resulted in at least 69 deaths after a Renfe-operated train was cleared to proceed despite a signal failure, colliding with a stationary Iryo-operated train ahead. An earlier accident in January on
the same route killed 46 people.
Following the January crash, union-government discussions on rail safety improvements began but collapsed in April 2026. The October collision exposed procedural failures by rail traffic control that the striking drivers cite as justification for their demands for enhanced safety and maintenance funding.
Official Funeral and Transport Ministry Changes
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia were scheduled to attend the funeral for victims of the October 28 crash at Toledo Cathedral in central Spain on November 10, 2026. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez appointed his deputy, Carlos Cuerpo, as acting transport minister after Oscar Puente resigned following the two fatal accidents.
