The train drivers’ strike is causing significant disruptions on the Madrid Commuter Rail system this Tuesday, November 10. According to the company, no trains are running on lines C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5, and C-8, while on lines C-1, C-7, and C-10, only a few trains are running on an exceptional basis. This update expands on the disruptions reported earlier this morning, when service was suspended primarily on lines C-3, C-4, and C-5.
Cercanías Madrid attributes these disruptions to the “failure to comply with the established minimum service requirements” for the strike called by the Spanish Union of Railroad Engineers (Semaf). The absence of service on five lines represents a greater disruption than the reduction provided for in the resolution issued by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility: 75% of regular trains were to be maintained during peak hours and 50% during the rest of the day.
Renfe recommends using other modes of transportation
Although the time slots with a 75% minimum service requirement are set for 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Renfe recommends seeking alternative modes of transportation and checking for updated information on its official channels before traveling, as the minimum service requirements are not being met.
This Tuesday’s strike is the first of two days of strikes called this week by Semaf, which has scheduled a second strike for Thursday, November 12. The union denounces the failure to fulfill commitments made to implement structural changes in rail safety. The protest also affects other Renfe services, for which different coverage levels have been set: an average of 65% for Medium-Distance trains and 72% for High-Speed and Long-Distance trains. These general percentages do not guarantee the departure of a specific train, so passengers with reservations should check the notices associated with their ticket.