Train drivers across Spain begin a three-day nationwide strike on Monday following two fatal rail crashes in January that killed at least 47 people and triggered renewed scrutiny of safety conditions across the country’s rail network.
The industrial action, led by the drivers’ union Semaf, comes after one collision in Adamuz in southern Spain killed 46 passengers and another near Barcelona two days later claimed the life of a train driver and injured dozens more.
The strikes are expected to cause widespread disruption to passenger services as unions demand urgent hiring, investment and maintenance measures, arguing that deteriorating infrastructure and staffing shortages are placing both workers and travellers at risk. The accidents have also prompted government investigations and parliamentary pressure on transport authorities.
Semaf said the walkout reflects growing concern among drivers over what it described as the “constant deterioration of the rail network” and the absence of sufficient safety guarantees. The union is calling for additional personnel, stronger inspection regimes and long-term funding commitments to prevent further incidents.
In the weeks following the crashes, safety inspections uncovered faults and maintenance issues on several rail routes, reinforcing concerns that problems extend beyond the locations of the two fatal accidents. Rail authorities have since increased monitoring on high-traffic lines while investigators continue examining technical failures.
A preliminary investigation by Spain’s rail accident investigation commission, the CIAF, found evidence suggesting that fractures in the track may have developed before one of the trains derailed. Inspectors identified grooves on the wheels of the damaged train and three earlier services, indicating prolonged contact with a compromised section of rail.
Officials also believe a wall collapsed as a train passed through one accident site, striking the driver’s cab first and causing major damage to the front carriage where most of the injured passengers were seated. The findings have intensified debate over infrastructure resilience and inspection standards.
The crisis is expected to dominate political debate this week, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez facing questioning in parliament over the state of the rail system and the government’s safety oversight.
Public confidence in Spain’s rail network, long promoted as one of Europe’s most advanced high-speed systems, has been shaken by the back-to-back crashes. Passenger groups have urged clearer communication about safety upgrades and contingency planning during the strike period.
Government officials have rejected claims that underinvestment is to blame for the accidents, pointing to recent spending on major routes. The Socialist-led administration says €700m has been invested in upgrading the Madrid–Andalusia line in recent years, including the stretch of track involved in the Adamuz crash.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente dismissed suggestions of systemic neglect, saying: “We’re not looking at a problem of lack of maintenance, we’re not looking at a problem of obsolete infrastructure, and we’re not looking at a problem of lack of investment.”
Union leaders, however, argue that headline investment figures do not reflect day-to-day operational pressures, particularly staffing levels for inspections, signalling and track monitoring. They say that modernisation projects have often focused on high-speed corridors while regional and commuter routes have seen slower upgrades.
Rail analysts note that Spain’s rapid network expansion over the past two decades has increased maintenance demands, requiring consistent funding not only for new infrastructure but also for long-term upkeep. Any delays in inspection or repairs, they warn, can magnify safety risks as traffic volumes grow.
During the three-day strike, operators are expected to run reduced services under emergency transport plans, prioritising essential commuter and long-distance routes. Travellers have been advised to check schedules regularly as cancellations and delays are likely throughout the week.
Semaf has described the January crashes as a “turning point” in its push for stronger safety protections, warning that further industrial action could follow if talks with transport authorities fail to produce concrete commitments. Negotiations between union representatives and the transport ministry are ongoing.
As investigations continue and political pressure mounts, the strikes mark one of the most serious challenges to Spain’s rail sector in years, combining public safety concerns with operational disruption at the heart of the country’s transport system.
