Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
If their trip is delayed even by 15 minutes, passengers on the high-speed train services of Spain’s state owned railway operator are entitled to compensation.
Renfe passengers will be entitled to a 50% refund on their ticket if they arrive 15 minutes late or more. This increases to a 100% refund if it is delayed for over 30 minutes.
A coalition consisting of Vox (left), Podemos (right), Junts per Catalunya and Esquerra Republicana – a right-wing party backed by the nationalists in Galicia – voted to amend the Sustainable Mobility Law.
The amendment reverses the changes made in July 20,24. Previously, Renfe was only required to refund 50 percent if services arrived more than one hour late.
The train has to arrive 90 minutes or more later than the scheduled time for passengers to get a refund.
But the latest rule change, approved on Thursday, has come under fierce criticism, with the transport ministry slamming the change as ‘populist’ and problematic to execute.
Oscar Puente, the transport minister, warned that the rule’s legal footing ‘needs to be assessed’.
READ MORE: ‘From Madrid you can get to Barcelona or Alicante for €20′: Brit marvels at Spain’s ‘cheap and well-connected’ trains
Renfe’s bosses believe that a change in compensation criteria puts the company at a disadvantage when compared with private operators Ouigo or Iryo. These companies are not affected by the law and can continue following the original 60/90-minute reimbursement rule.
Renfe told a Catalan newspaper that it was unclear why the amendment targeted Renfe only, as a Spanish public corporation, and not Ouigo nor Iryo. Diari ARA.
“By making this demand on a single firm, in an environment of competition like the one of commercial services…the company and its employees are at a severe disadvantage.”
Renfe’s executives are apparently examining the legal options available to them in order challenge this rule change.
In 2023, Renfe paid about €42 million in compensation to passengers impacted by delayed services.
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