This news is crucial for everyone using public transport in Valencia and Alicante: partial walkouts announced by train drivers will alter schedules and may cause queues and delays on key dates. Operators warn of a reduced fleet and timetable changes, which will increase pressure on surface routes and taxis. Authorities and transport companies must promptly inform passengers and coordinate additional measures to maintain safety.
The Maquinistas Ferroviarios (Semaf) union has launched a series of protest shifts on the Valencia metro (Metrovalencia) and the TRAM in Alicante. In the regional capital, strike days are scheduled across nine dates in March, including the main days of the Fallas festival: on March 13, partial walkouts from 11:00 to 15:00 and in the evening from 21:00 to 23:59; and from March 14 to 19 — several time slots each day, covering both night and daytime periods with varying end times. Additional stoppages are planned for March 24 and 26, affecting morning, daytime and evening shifts. On the TRAM in Alicante, protests will take place on March 13, 16, 18, 20, 24 and 26 with three time windows: 07:00–10:00, 13:00–16:00, and 19:00–21:00.
The union is demanding change, stating that the issue extends beyond schedules. According to their position, talks with the management of Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana (FGV) have failed to resolve key concerns related to safety and work organization. Union statements highlight insufficient dialogue from management and a systematic underestimation of the role of drivers as the last safety barrier on the line. Semaf insists the current situation increases operational risks and requires urgent changes.
The list of demands includes technical and organizational adjustments. The union proposes to upgrade infrastructure sections, eliminate recurring operational risks, provide clearer labeling of signals and blocking elements (enclavamientos), improve track lighting, and adapt driver cabins to real working needs. There is also a call to develop clear protocols for exceptional situations, strengthen hands-on training during hiring and certification, and improve the system for providing practical exercises for new staff.
Meanwhile, another union, Intersindical Valenciana, has highlighted the “degradation” of FGV services: frequent infrastructure failures along the tracks, issues with electronic blocking systems, signal maintenance problems, and a shortage of spare parts or personnel. According to Intersindical Valenciana, this leads to constant schedule changes and canceled days off, turning routine operations into a complicated process where drivers begin their shifts with a lengthy list of faults and instructions.
Separately, the unions point to issues arising after the flood on October 29, 2024 — the so-called DANA: the restoration of the section near Picanya and the commissioning of a new segment revealed shortcomings. In particular, they note that the installation of the traffic control unit was carried out by an external contractor, and FGV staff did not receive adequate training on how to operate the new equipment. This situation serves as one of the arguments supporting demands for better staff training and information.
Semaf emphasizes that attempts to reach agreements in working committees and through labor arbitration have yielded no progress, prompting the announcement of partial stoppages as a pressure tactic. At the same time, it’s important to consider deeper labor market issues; recently, migration trends in employment have shifted the workforce balance — covered in a detailed report on labor market migration, which examines changes in the makeup of new jobs and provides broader context for social tensions.
For passengers, this means: check for updates from FGV before traveling, allow extra time, and consider possible transfers to buses. Public transport companies are required to publish guaranteed minimum service schedules and coordinate with local municipalities to prevent disruptions on especially busy routes during the holiday period.
Background: In recent months, regional transport has faced pressure due to weather and technical disruptions; emergency repairs following the incident on October 29, 2024, led to prolonged maintenance and subsequent service interruptions on lines 1, 2, and 7. In the past, similar conflicts between train operators and management sometimes resulted in temporary agreements to enhance safety measures and training, but a systemic solution has yet to emerge. Tensions remain high, and the coming weeks will show whether the parties can agree on measures without major service disruptions.
