Spain’s national rail operator RENFE will cancel 955 trains over the three days of strike action called by rail unions for 9, 10 & 11 February, after talks between the government and union leaders failed to reach an agreement.
A meeting held on Wednesday between Spain’s Transport Minister, Óscar Puente, and representatives of the main railway unions ended without a deal, meaning the strike will go ahead as planned. However, both sides have agreed to continue negotiations in an effort to resolve the dispute.
According to the Ministry of Transport’s minimum service ruling, of the 955 cancelled trains, 272 are high-speed and long-distance services and 683 are medium-distance trains.
The ministry has set minimum service levels — which do not apply in Catalonia or the Basque Country — of 73% for high-speed and long-distance services; 75% during peak hours and 50% for the rest of the day on commuter lines; 65% for medium-distance services; and 21% for freight.
As a result, of the 995 high-speed and long-distance trains scheduled for 9-11 February, 723 will operate as minimum services on those days, representing 73%. Of the 1,960 medium-distance services planned, 1,277 will run, equivalent to 65%.
In Catalonia minimum service levels of 66% at peak times and 33% during the rest of the day have been set, according to local media. Catalonia’s Rodalies commuter services are currently free ‘until a complete restoration of the network’ is carried out, the Catalan regional government has said.
The strike has been called by trade unions CCOO, UGT and the train drivers’ union Semaf, who are demanding a change to Spain’s rail model and the restoration of safety standards following recent accidents that caused 47 deaths, the suspension of high-speed services to Andalusia, and the shutdown of the Rodalies commuter rail network in Catalonia. ALSO READ: Spain’s train crash victims mourned as families call for truth and justice.
Puente met with union leaders at the ministry’s headquarters in an attempt to avert the strike, which applies to all railway staff, from operations and maintenance to traffic control, onboard services and other activities that sustain the public rail service.
In addition to the RENFE Group — covering passenger services (high-speed, long-distance, medium-distance and commuter trains) and RENFE Freight — the strike also affects infrastructure manager Adif, private operators Iryo and Ouigo, onboard services contractor Serveo, and freight and logistics companies including Medway, Captrain, Transervi, Redalsa, Tracción Rail and Logirail.
Following publication of the minimum services ruling on Thursday, Semaf criticised the measures, saying they ‘look more like maximum services than minimum ones’.
Given the ability of other transport modes to absorb passengers unable to travel by rail during the strike — and the fact that air and road transport will also be affected — the ministry concluded that operating at least 73% of services is necessary to guarantee essential transport for the public.
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Segunda reunión con @_SEMAF_ @CCOO y @UGT_Comunica en relación con la situación del sector ferroviario y la búsqueda de soluciones conjuntas de cara al futuro. https://t.co/x8PzdPBd0r pic.twitter.com/F7D4LsTxfd
— Óscar Puente (@oscar_puente_) February 5, 2026
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