Spanish train drivers went on strike on Tuesday, demanding increased investment in maintenance and safety, days after at least 69 people were killed in a collision between a passenger train and a stationary train on the high-speed Madrid-Seville line on October 28.
40% of long- and medium-distance services were cancelled on Tuesday, affecting 4,042 passengers, according to state-run train operator Renfe. Around 90% of services on Madrid’s commuter network and 50% of local services in Barcelona, the country’s second-largest city, were also cancelled.
At least five lines on the city’s commuter rail network were not operational, while three others were running partially, state operator Cercanias said. The strike led to widespread travel disruption across Spain. In Leganes, near the capital, Madrid, commuters had to rely on buses to reach the city centre.
Talks between the train drivers’ union and the government on improving safety across Spain’s high-speed rail network, the most extensive in Europe, began after the January crash but broke down in April, according to the union. Last week, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez appointed his deputy, Carlos Cuerpo, to temporarily oversee the transport ministry after Oscar Puente stepped down following the two crashes on the Madrid-Seville line.