Spain’s Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Adif, Adif AV and the Renfe Group have reached an agreement with the unions SEMAF, UGT and CCOO to call off the strike planned for 9, 10 and 11 February 2026. However, CGT and SF have not joined the agreement and are maintaining their strike call, meaning cancellations may still occur over the next two days.
The pact includes an emergency plan on operational safety and the reinforcement of staffing levels through the internalisation of workloads at Renfe and Adif. It also foresees major increases in maintenance expenditure for the network managed by Adif and Adif AV up to 2030.
From dispute to agreement
The unions had called the strike for 9, 10 and 11 February over disagreements concerning safety and the organisational model of the rail system. After the stoppages on the 9th went ahead, the parties resumed talks and, on that same day, signed a memorandum deemed sufficient to call off the remaining two strike days.
Both sides have agreed to maintain “industrial peace” over the agreed points, conditional upon the Ministry’s fulfilment of its commitments. A joint monitoring committee will be set up and meet within one month, and thereafter whenever required to assess the progress of the measures.
Emergency plan for safety and supervision
The agreement is built around a sector-wide emergency plan that combines regulatory changes, a strengthening of the State Railway Safety Agency (AESF), and the creation of new permanent forums for social dialogue.
On the regulatory front, Article 36 of Royal Decree 929/2020 will be clarified or urgently amended to ensure that driving time is only considered interrupted when the driver takes a break of at least 45 minutes, with shorter pauses counted as continuous driving time.
Within one month, a Committee for the Harmonisation and Coordination of Shared Risk Management in Railway Operations will be established, involving infrastructure managers, railway undertakings, AESF and representative unions. Specialist working groups will also be set up to monitor Temporary Speed Restrictions (TSRs), draw up a common protocol for extreme weather alerts, and promote a “just culture” across the National Railway Network of General Interest.
The AESF will be reinforced with 50 additional posts, including two new deputy directorates, and will introduce pay incentives to attract and retain talent. Among its new priorities are the overhaul of safety forums, enhanced supervision of risk notification management processes, and the review of minimum crew requirements and onboard communication systems. It will also increase audits of accredited training centres, focusing especially on simulator use and emergency response training.
More staff and maintenance at Adif and Adif AV
For Adif, the agreement foresees a significant strengthening of both staffing and infrastructure maintenance. The network manager will scale back the annual job reductions planned in its 2030 Strategic Plan and process a specific replacement rate of 2,400 additional posts beyond the ordinary quota between 2026 and 2030—roughly 480 new hires per year—directly tied to safety improvements and internalised workloads. It also commits to promoting a replacement rate of no less than 115% in future General State Budget laws.
Adif’s maintenance budget will rise to €861 million in 2026, up from the €748.8 million in the original agreement, and reach €1.179 billion by 2030. The annex sets out a steadily increasing investment path over 2026–2030, well above previous projections. For Adif AV, a new 2026–2030 financing agreement has also been signed, with cumulative maintenance spending rising by 44% between 2025 and 2030 and annual increases throughout the period.
The plan also includes expanding Adif’s road vehicle fleet for maintenance by 300 units, with the first 100 vehicles expected to enter service in the first half of the year once procurement is finalised. Renewal of trackwork vehicles will also be planned, linked to collective bargaining measures that strengthen the driving function of these specialised machines.
More jobs and internalised maintenance at Renfe
At the Renfe Group, the agreement introduces an additional replacement quota allowing for 1,200 new recruitments across various categories—management, driving, on-board catering and assistance, station services, operations centres and maintenance. The goal is to strengthen operational procedures, ensure adequate onboard staffing for medium and long‑distance services, and ease workload strains caused by uncertainty and human error, thereby increasing staff confidence in technical systems and organisational support.
A key provision concerns the gradual internalisation of rolling stock maintenance. For the 452 and 453 series, the 50% internal maintenance already set in the contract will be maintained, while the second phase will be brought entirely in‑house under Renfe Ingeniería y Mantenimiento, with Renfe’s own staff. Maintenance of Class 104 units at Málaga AV Maintenance Depot will also be internalised.
The rail operator also plans to consolidate and internalise its long‑distance workshop (ATL) activities for motive power and multiple units across several depots and workshop battalions, including León, Córdoba, Miranda, Tarragona, Sagunto, Escombreras, Vicálvaro, Portbou and Irún.
Renfe will also carry out full in‑house maintenance of its forthcoming high‑speed train fleets and launch specific upgrade campaigns for air‑conditioning systems to improve reliability and passenger comfort.
New labour and safety framework
The agreement establishes a permanent channel between unions, AESF and the Labour Inspectorate to address work-related conditions affecting rail safety, such as shift patterns, rest periods, notice requirements or schedule changes. The AESF will review union proposals on rolling stock and, if feasible and compliant with EU law, may incorporate them into future European technical specifications or standards.
Lastly, Renfe employees performing onboard control duties on passenger services are guaranteed the authority powers provided under the third transitional provision of Spain’s Sustainable Mobility Act 9/2025.
With this comprehensive package of measures, the Spanish rail sector begins a five‑year cycle grounded in greater resources, enhanced oversight, and a stronger link between working conditions and operational safety.