The government has agreed to enhance resources devoted to maintenance and infrastructure, as well as to proceed with regulatory changes that, according to the Ministry of Transport, will benefit the whole railway network.
Railway unions have called off the train drivers’ strike, which was set to interrupt services from February 9th to 11th, after reaching an agreement with the Ministry of Transport. This means that trains from Alicante to Madrid, Valencia, and other major cities will resume regular service.
The strike, called by the sector’s main unions—SEMAF, CCOO, and UGT—and supported in an initial phase by other organisations, had already resulted in widespread cancellations and disruptions to High Speed, Medium Distance, and Commuter services, affecting hundreds of trains across Spain.
The demonstration was in response to worker complaints over railway safety, which had been exacerbated by tragic incidents in Adamuz (Cordoba) and Gelida (Barcelona), which strained relations between sector leaders and the government.
An accord labelled as “historic”
According to union and ministry sources, the agreement agreed on Monday includes a series of obligations to examine the railway safety model, increase investment in maintenance and people, and enhance working conditions in the industry. The government has decided to increase resources devoted to maintenance and infrastructure, as well as implement regulatory measures that, according to the Ministry of Transport, benefit the entire railway system.
SEMAF’s general secretary, Diego Martín, praised the deal as “historic,” highlighting progress on tangible commitments to address the union’s primary objectives. Meanwhile, Ministry officials emphasised the willingness to engage in negotiation and find a consensus, allowing for a way to stop the strike before it lasted a week.
Restoration of service following interruptions
Although train services resumed in the early hours of Tuesday, industry sources acknowledged that several minor issues and operational adjustments from Monday’s day of strikes and cancellations remained to be rectified.
Travellers who were unable to travel today will find most connections restored, including the AVE, long-distance trains between Alicante and Madrid, and the Media Distancia and Cercanías lines.
Author: Derek Appleton
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