Spain’s railways face three days of disruption this week. Renfe’s train drivers are on strike today, Tuesday 10 November, and again on Thursday 12 November, and a general strike falls on Wednesday 11 November. If you’re travelling to or around Spain before the weekend, check your train before you set off.
Spain rail strikes November 2026: the dates and hours
Tuesday 10 November. The drivers’ union SEMAF has called a strike across the Renfe group for the whole day, from 00:01 to 23:59. It covers drivers nationwide.
Wednesday 11 November. Spain’s Ministry of Transport lists minimum-service rulings for a general strike on this date, called by several unions. They cover Renfe and Ouigo as well as Adif, the infrastructure manager, and staff at Adif stations and high-speed traffic control centres. So expect knock-on effects across the network, not just on Renfe trains.
Thursday 12 November. SEMAF’s second strike day comes in three blocks: 06:20 to 09:20, 14:20 to 17:20 and 21:20 to 23:20. Trains outside those windows should be less affected, but allow for delays as the timetable recovers.
Minimum services on 10 and 12 November
The ministry has set minimum services for the two drivers’ strike days in a resolution signed on 6 November. Renfe published the resolution.
- High-speed and long-distance trains (AVE and Larga Distancia): 72% of usual services.
- Media Distancia regional trains: 65% on average.
- Cercanías commuter trains: 75% at peak times and 50% off-peak.
Renfe has to tell the ministry and Adif which trains will run at least 48 hours before each strike day. The figures above cover the drivers’ strike only. The general strike on 11 November has separate rulings, so check that day on its own.
What it means for your trip
Most of the disruption falls midweek, so a Friday-to-Sunday break should be clear of these dates. The risk is for anyone flying in early, or using the train between cities on Wednesday or Thursday, for example from Madrid to Barcelona or on to the coast.
Before you travel, check your booking in the Renfe app or on its website. Look again the evening before, as the list of trains that will run can change. If you have a choice, the hours outside Thursday’s strike blocks are the safer bet.
For more ideas once the trains are back to normal, see our pick of the best holiday destinations in Spain. Our news page has the latest strike updates for France and Italy too.
