Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
Monday, 17th of March 2025 18:34
Renfe, Adif and other unions called off strikes scheduled for this Monday as well six additional days (19, 24 and 26 March, 1 and 3 of April, and also 19 and 28 March). This would have led to the cancellations of nearly 1,400 trains. Their decision was made easier by an agreement that the Ministry of Transport issued on Sunday, 16 March. The agreement stated that Renfe still holds 51% of the shares of the regional commuter rail service in Catalonia.
After many hours of negotiation, the PSOE and ERC (pro Catalan independence) agreed that Rodalies would be managed by a “mixed company” owned by Renfe but mainly represented by Catalonia’s regional government. Rodalies de Catalunya will be the company name. The Ministry of Transport hopes to save workers from a change of company, reduce public expenditures, and give the local government greater control over the train service.
Adif will continue to manage the Rodalies R1 Line, allowing the company to integrate the trains into European and Spanish Networks.
Put an end to headless situations
Renfe Adif, and the unions UGT, CC OO SCF, and Semaf, (train drivers) have all endorsed this agreement. They have also agreed to apply, from today, the Renfe Group’s collective agreement, guarantees agreement, and all labour obligations. “Aware that the breaching of agreements caused great anxiety, all signatory parties hope” to “have reached a mutual agreement on the issues leading to the strike call”.
Debt
Generalitat insists that despite this agreement, Renfe will only own the Rodalies service “temporarily” and defends its ultimate goal of “a Catalan 100% company” to control it. Moreover, the regional government refused to assume responsibility for Renfe’s debpt.
