Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 9, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 9, 2026
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Spain's rail workers' unions ended a strike after securing a safety agreement with authorities, following recent train accidents. Some smaller unions continue to strike.
BARCELONA/MADRID, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Spain's main unions for rail workers called off a three-day nationwide strike, which was scheduled to start Monday, after authorities agreed to boost investments and reinforce staffing following a string of high-profile train accidents.
Last month, several consecutive derailments and crashes left dozens dead, sparking public scrutiny of the state of Spain's rail infrastructure. A January 18 high-speed rail crash in southern Andalusia killed 46 people while a derailment two days later in northeastern Catalonia killed a train driver.
In a statement, train drivers' union SEMAF said it had achieved all of its demands with a deal that addressed day-to-day safety concerns raised by drivers across all railway companies, including steps on infrastructure investment, working groups and safety procedures.
The Transport Ministry, railway operator Adif and state-owned rail company Renfe had committed to implementing measures aimed at substantially improving safety management, as well as establishing clear limits and responsibilities and bolstering staffing, it added, without specifying concrete measures.
Trade unions CCOO and UGT, the country's biggest, also told their members in the railway sector the strike was off, with CCOO warning it would rigorously monitor the agreed measures' proper rollout.
However, smaller unions CGT and Sindicato Ferroviario said they would continue striking until Wednesday, as they had been excluded from talks and had yet to be informed of the deal's terms.
It triggered some cancellations and delays, although the Transport Ministry had set high minimum service levels: 73% for long-distance trains, 75% for commuter services during rush hour and 50% during off-peak hours.
Earlier on Monday, passengers were checking electronic boards for cancelled services at Barcelona's main station, Sants.
"This is my third cancellation. I hope the train I'm booked on, which is supposed to leave in an hour, will actually depart," French commuter François Monti, 52, told Reuters.
"But I understand the safety situation is complicated, so I understand the train drivers."
(Reporting by Horaci Garcia, Emma Pinedo and David Latona; Additional reporting by Corina Pons; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
A rail workers' strike is a work stoppage initiated by employees in the rail industry to protest against working conditions, safety issues, or other employment-related grievances.
Safety measures in rail transport include protocols and investments aimed at preventing accidents, ensuring the safe operation of trains, and protecting both workers and passengers.
A union is an organized group of workers that come together to make decisions about the terms and conditions of their work, including wages, benefits, and safety standards.
A derailment occurs when a train leaves its tracks, which can result in accidents, injuries, and damage to infrastructure.
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