Renfe has cancelled 320 AVE, Long and Medium Distance trains due to a strike by the Sindicato Ferroviario. The stoppage affects services on June 29 and July 15. Passengers face major changes and reduced options.
Rail travel across Spain faces significant disruption as Renfe cancels 320 trains following a strike called by the Sindicato Ferroviario. The industrial action, scheduled for June 29 and July 15, targets AVE, Long Distance, and Medium Distance services, forcing the operator to implement sweeping changes to its timetable.
According to the minimum service plan approved by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, 98 AVE and Long Distance trains—out of 360 scheduled—will not run on the affected days. This leaves 262 trains in operation, representing 73% of the usual service. Medium Distance routes are hit even harder: 222 out of 642 trains are cancelled, with only 420 running, or 65% of the normal schedule.
Commuter rail (Cercanías) services will also be reduced. During peak hours—defined as 6:00 to 9:00, 13:30-14:00 to 15:30-16:00, and 18:30 to 20:30—Renfe will provide 75% of its standard service. Outside these periods, only half of the usual trains will operate. In the Basque Country and Catalonia, where regional governments control rail operations, minimum service levels are set by the respective authorities.
Renfe has announced that affected AVE, Long Distance, and Medium Distance passengers will be offered alternative trains at the closest possible times, subject to availability. Those who prefer not to travel can cancel or reschedule their tickets at no extra cost, using any Renfe sales channel.
The Sindicato Ferroviario, which organized the strike, accuses Renfe of deliberately neglecting its freight division, Renfe Mercancías. The union opposes the creation of a joint venture with Medway, a subsidiary of MSC, for freight operations. It claims this move violates agreements reached in November 2023 and March 2025 between the Ministry and Renfe unions, alleging a reduction in workload for the freight subsidiary and negative consequences for other workshops.
Union representatives argue that these breaches reflect an unjustified abandonment of Renfe's public freight activity, causing serious harm to staff and demanding immediate corrective action. The Sindicato Ferroviario remains a minority union within the sector, but its actions have triggered widespread disruption for passengers and staff alike.
Spain's rail network is among the most extensive in Europe, with AVE high-speed lines connecting major cities and regions. Industrial action in the sector can have a broad impact, affecting not only daily commuters but also long-distance travelers and the logistics chain. The current dispute highlights ongoing tensions over the future of public rail freight and the balance between public and private sector roles in Spain's transport infrastructure.
