Train strike in Spain: Nationwide delays

Furious rail workers slam ‘shameful agreement’ as Tuesday’s 24-hour walkout halts services nationwide.

Train passengers across Spain are bracing for travel misery this Tuesday, April 1, as rail workers at Renfe and ADIF stage a full-blown 24-hour strike in protest against what one union branded a ‘shameful agreement’.

The walkout, called by the CGT union, affects services nationwide and has already thrown a spanner in the travel plans of thousands of commuters across Spain. The action is set to run from midnight to 11:59 PM, with only limited “minimum services” in place – sparking warnings of major disruption throughout the day, and fears it could extend to the upcoming Easter holiday period.

Why are rail workers striking in Spain?

The CGT (Confederación General del Trabajo), which represents a chunk of the country’s railway workforce, is furious over a deal signed on March 16 between the Ministry of Transport, the Generalitat of Catalonia, and major unions including SEMAF, CCOO, UGT and SCF.

CGT claims the agreement “guarantees absolutely nothing” and paves the way for creeping privatisation, job insecurity, and a slow dismantling of Spain’s public rail services.

In a fiery statement, the union said:

“For all the glitter they try to throw on the ‘pact of shame’ signed on the night of March 16, the workforce knows these stories never end well: privatisation, fragmentation and the collapse of the public service.”

The group slammed the move as déjà vu, citing what happened with companies like Telefónica, Endesa, and Gas Natural – firms that once formed part of Spain’s public sector before being privatised and hit with mass layoffs, forced mobility, and “uncontrolled subcontracting.”

And the icing on the bitter cake? CGT accuses the supposedly left-leaning government of pulling a fast one on workers.

“Now the ‘most progressive government in history’ wants to repeat the same model with Renfe and ADIF,” said the union, warning of backdoor privatisation and ‘savage’ cuts to job security.

Adding fuel to the fire, the Minister of Transport reportedly said:

“We want Renfe to be like Aena” – a reference to Spain’s partially privatised airport operator.

What’s happening on April 1?

In protest, CGT has called a national 24-hour strike across the Renfe and ADIF networks on Tuesday, April 1. The union is also organising demonstrations in:

Malaga María Zambrano Station – 11 AM

Seville Santa Justa Station – 11 AM

Madrid, outside the Ministry of Transport – April 3

Passengers across Spain are advised to brace for delays, cancellations, and packed trains, even with ‘minimum services’ in place to keep essential routes running.

The minimum service plan

Here’s what’s running – and what’s not – on strike day, according to the Ministry of Transport’s official resolution:

Cercanías (commuter trains)

75% of usual service during rush hour

Just 50% in Euskadi during peak hours

Only 50% off-peak, 25% in Euskadi

Media Distancia (regional trains)

65% of regular services

Long Distance / AVE (high-speed trains)

72% of services to operate

Freight services

Just 24% of cargo trains will run

Rodalies (Catalonia commuter rail)

66% during peak hours (6 AM – 9:30 AM)

33% the rest of the day

Where to get Spanish train updates

Renfe is beefing up customer communications with updates available via:

Renfe.com

Customer line: 912 320 320

Station posters and announcements

Cercanías app

Ticket machines in stations

What it means for passengers

If you’ve got a train booked for April 1, double-check your itinerary. The strike is expected to cause long delays, reduced service, and potential overcrowding – even on routes that are still running.

This is the latest in a string of public sector showdowns.

Stay tuned.

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