News
Renfe train drivers' strike in Catalonia postponed to 23 November
The Renfe train drivers' strike in Catalonia, originally scheduled for 12 November, has been postponed to Monday, 23 November. The Semaf union made this decision after the Spanish government approved new measures to strengthen railway safety. However, the protests have not been definitively called off.
Rodalies users will get a break in the schedule of railway protests. The Sindicato Español de Maquinistas Ferroviarios (Semaf) has decided to postpone the next strike, which was originally planned for Thursday, 12 November, moving it to the 23rd.
The decision comes after the central government approved new safety measures for the railway network, one of the main concerns raised by the train drivers’ representatives.
Why the Renfe strike is being postponed
The announcement means a change in the protest calendar, but it does not mean the labour dispute is over.
Semaf has chosen to delay the strike call following the approval of the new railway safety measures. However, the union is still considering further protests and is keeping the new date of 23 November.
Therefore, travellers should continue to follow updates from the union and Renfe to see how the situation develops.
The previous strike caused mass cancellations on Rodalies
The postponement comes after a particularly difficult day for rail passengers in Catalonia.
During the previous train drivers’ strike, by 6:30 in the morning, 60% of the trains scheduled to run as minimum services had already been cancelled, causing major disruption to journeys.
With trains not running, Renfe recommended using alternative transport and informed passengers about ticket refund options.
To reduce the impact of the cancellations, more than 60 bus routes in Catalonia were reinforced.
The Generalitat demanded explanations for the cancelled trains
The disruptions also prompted a response from the Catalan government.
The consellera of Territori, Habitatge i Transició Ecològica, Sílvia Paneque, demanded explanations from Renfe for the high number of services that did not run.
The Generalitat announced it would investigate the reasons for the absence of train drivers at work and would consider possible action if any irregularities were found.
When is the next train drivers’ strike?
With the change announced by Semaf, the next strike is now set for Monday, 23 November 2026.
For now, the postponement does not mean the union’s demands have been dropped.
Passengers planning to travel on Rodalies on that date can check for service updates on the official Rodalies de Catalunya y Renfe websites.