Renfe strike cancels 320 trains over freight venture dispute
A 24-hour strike by Spanish rail workers has forced the cancellation of 320 trains at the start of the holiday season, escalating a labour dispute over the planned integration of Renfe Freight into a joint venture with Medway.
Spanish rail workers walked off the job for 24 hours on Monday, June 29th, forcing the cancellation of 320 trains across high-speed, medium-distance and commuter networks. The industrial action deliberately coincides with the start of Spain's summer holiday season, a period of peak passenger demand.
State operator Renfe is maintaining 73 percent of its high-speed and long-distance schedule, cancelling 98 out of 360 planned services. On medium-distance routes, 222 of 642 trains have been scrapped, leaving 65 percent of journeys operational.
Early reports indicate the disruption is concentrated on Madrid's Cercanías commuter network, where passengers faced delays of around 15 minutes. In a post on social network 'X' around 8:30 am, Renfe described participation as "very limited, with only occasional disruptions."
Freight restructuring at stake
The strike is driven by Spain’s Railway Union (SF) and centres on the future of Renfe Mercancías. The union strongly opposes the company's plan to create a joint venture with Medway, a subsidiary of the global shipping giant MSC group.
SF accuses Renfe of deliberately abandoning its freight division and violating workers' labour rights during the search for a strategic partner. The union warned the situation poses a "serious threat" to Renfe's workforce and creates an atmosphere of uncertainty "without any guarantees for the workforce."
The restructuring of state-owned freight operations is a significant step in Spain's rail liberalisation, aimed at increasing efficiency and attracting private investment. However, the union's aggressive stance signals potential operational risks and labour friction for the Medway partnership before it is even finalised.
To manage the immediate passenger fallout, Renfe is allowing affected travellers to board the next available train or change and cancel their tickets without fees. The standoff is far from resolved, as the SF has already called a second 24-hour strike for July 15th to disrupt the next major wave of holiday exoduses.
