Spanish train drivers have postponed a planned walkout after the government approved rail safety measures, following a day of disruption across the network and heightened concern after two fatal collisions this year.
The drivers’ union SEMAF said it would replace a stoppage planned for 12 November with one on 23 November. The announcement came after drivers went on strike on Tuesday 10 November, seeking greater investment in maintenance and safety.
The union said another strike was still planned for 17 November. It wants the government to approve and publish further safety commitments and described the change of date as an opportunity for negotiations, rather than an end to the dispute.
State operator Renfe said about 40% of its long- and medium-distance services were cancelled during Tuesday’s action. The figure is the operator’s account of disruption; passengers’ experiences varied across different services.
Safety measures approved
Spain’s cabinet approved a decree-law on 10 November covering the calculation of driving time, railway inspections, the reporting of safety risks and social protection for railway staff. The government said the package responded to demands from unions.
One change specifies which activities count towards a driver’s recorded driving time. The transport ministry said the calculation would include manoeuvres involving a moving rail vehicle and interruptions during which a driver remains responsible for it or must pay attention to rail movements.
Periods of less than 45 minutes between a driver stopping and resuming driving are also to count as driving time under the approved text. That includes periods in which the driver is relieved of responsibility for the vehicle or is given other duties. The calculation matters because it determines which parts of a working period are recognised as driving activity.
The package also strengthens the ability of Spain’s railway safety agency to inspect premises, trains and equipment. Railway organisations are to facilitate access where necessary, including when the property or equipment involved belongs to an organisation other than the one directly under inspection.
Reporting risks and stopping a train
The government said the measures would introduce a framework for railway staff to report operational risks through confidential channels. The approved provisions also recognise the right to take necessary and proportionate action in the face of a serious and imminent safety risk, including stopping a train or deciding not to start it. The relevant staff must be told without delay.
Protections against reprisals are not unlimited. The ministry said they would not apply in cases involving deliberate wrongdoing, bad faith or gross negligence. It also described conditions for avoiding sanctions when information is reported, including ending the conduct concerned and cooperating fully with an investigation.
A further part of the decree-law extends early-retirement provisions to railway staff performing equivalent functions at companies operating on specified networks. The ministry said a review, with union participation, would examine whether other categories of railway workers exposed to difficult or dangerous conditions should be included.
SEMAF said the decree-law would take legal effect once published in Spain’s official gazette. Cabinet approval should not be treated as proof that every measure has already been put into practice. The union also said other commitments remained to be turned into rules.
Support for accident victims
In a separate decision, the cabinet approved the creation of a permanent official role for victims of collective-transport accidents and their families. The government said the office would act as a point of contact with public bodies and help people obtain information about their rights, available assistance and the procedures for accessing it.
The role is intended to cover accidents in rail, air, maritime and bus transport under state jurisdiction. Its functions include helping people access psychological and emotional support after emergency arrangements have ended.
The dispute follows two fatal collisions this year on the Madrid–Seville high-speed line. An accident in January killed 46 people, while 69 died in the collision near Urda on 28 October. A state funeral for the Urda victims was held in Toledo on 10 November. The new measures and the strike should not be taken as a finding about the cause of either crash.
