As of 20 Oct 2026, 14:30 (UTC+7) / 09:30 in Madrid and Paris
Updated: 21 October 2026, 09:13 (UTC+7): corrected the SEMAF source link and lede/FAQ wording.
Update, 31 October 2026 (UTC+7): Ouigo España’s website says it is cancelling all trains between Madrid and Andalusia through 9 November 2026 inclusive. Spain’s Transport Ministry also lists a full-day SEMAF drivers’ strike at Ouigo on Monday 2 November 2026. Details: Spain Ouigo Cancels Madrid–Andalusia Trains Through 9 November.
Strikes affecting rail travel have been called in three Western European countries: Spain on 29 October, Italy on 29–30 October and France on 5 November 2026. In Spain, the train drivers’ union SEMAF has called a 24-hour strike at Renfe on Thursday 29 October. In France, the four main rail unions have called SNCF workers out on Thursday 5 November. In Italy, a national general strike affects rail from 21:00 on 29 October to 20:59 on 30 October.
Here are the dates, who is affected and how to plan around them.
At a glance
| Country | When | Who called it | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | Thu 29 Oct, 00:01–23:59 | SEMAF (train drivers’ union): driving staff at all Renfe Group companies | SEMAF notice |
| France | Thu 5 Nov (the call gives no hours) | CGT-Cheminots, UNSA-Ferroviaire, SUD-Rail and CFDT-Cheminots: SNCF rail workers | Joint union statement (PDF, French) |
| Italy | Rail: 21:00 Thu 29 Oct to 20:59 Fri 30 Oct. Air: 00:00–23:59 on 30 Oct | USB national general strike | Italian strike register |
Spain: Renfe train drivers strike on 29 October
In a notice dated 16 October 2026, SEMAF, the Spanish train drivers’ union, said it had agreed to call a 24-hour strike on 29 October, from 00:01 to 23:59. The strike is aimed at all driving staff in every company of the Renfe Group.
Because the call covers drivers across the whole Renfe Group, any Renfe-run train could be affected that day. The union has not said which trains will run, and as of 20 October Spain’s Transport Ministry had not yet listed minimum services for the strike on its official minimum-services page. Check that page and your journey on Renfe’s website or app before you travel. If your train is run by a different company, check with that company.
France: SNCF strike call for 5 November
In a joint statement dated 15 October 2026, the four main rail unions (CGT-Cheminots, UNSA-Ferroviaire, SUD-Rail and CFDT-Cheminots) called on SNCF rail workers to strike on Thursday 5 November over jobs, pay and working conditions.
A union call does not tell you which trains will run. That depends on the operator’s own plan for the day. If you are booked on a train in France on 5 November, check it on SNCF Connect in the days before, and again the evening before you travel.
Italy: rail and air on 29–30 October
Italy’s official strike register lists a USB national general strike on 30 October. For rail it runs from 21:00 on 29 October to 20:59 on 30 October, and for air transport from 00:00 to 23:59 on 30 October. We covered this in our weekly disruptions roundup. If you are travelling between Spain and Italy around 29–30 October, you may face disruption on both sides.
Who is affected
- Rail travellers in Spain on 29 October, on Renfe Group services.
- Rail travellers in France on 5 November, on SNCF services.
- Rail travellers in Italy from the evening of 29 October to the evening of 30 October, and air travellers in Italy on 30 October.
- Anyone with a train-to-plane connection on those days, such as a train to the airport for an international flight.
How to plan around the strikes
- Check your booking now. Note which company runs each train on your ticket.
- Move non-essential trips to the day before or after, where your ticket allows it.
- Build in a buffer for airport connections. Consider travelling to the airport city the night before.
- Look at back-up options such as coaches, car hire or domestic flights, and book refundable fares where you can.
- Check again the day before. Strike plans can change, or be called off, before the date.
- Keep your rebooking details handy: booking reference, operator app logins and receipts for any extra costs.
Staying connected on strike days
On strike days, train updates, platform changes and rebooking offers can arrive in operator apps and by email at short notice. Having mobile data from the moment you land helps. A Spain eSIM or France eSIM can be installed before you leave home, and if your trip crosses several countries, an EU + UK eSIM may suit you better. Always check the operator’s official channels for the final word on your train.
Official sources
- SEMAF: strike notice for 29 October (Spanish)
- Joint SNCF union statement, 15 October 2026 (PDF, French)
- Italy: Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport strike register
- Spain: Transport Ministry rail minimum-services resolutions (Spanish)
- Renfe and SNCF Connect for train status
FAQ
When is the Renfe train strike in Spain?
SEMAF, the train drivers’ union, has called a 24-hour strike on Thursday 29 October 2026, from 00:01 to 23:59. It covers driving staff at all Renfe Group companies.
When is the SNCF strike in France?
France’s four main rail unions (CGT-Cheminots, UNSA-Ferroviaire, SUD-Rail and CFDT-Cheminots) have called SNCF rail workers to strike on Thursday 5 November 2026.
Is Italy also on strike?
Yes. Italy’s official strike register lists a USB national general strike on 30 October. Rail is affected from 21:00 on 29 October to 20:59 on 30 October, and air transport from 00:00 to 23:59 on 30 October.
Will my train run?
The union calls do not say which trains will run. Check your train before you travel, and again the day before: with the operator Renfe in Spain, and on the SNCF Connect booking platform in France.
This article is for travel planning only and is not official guidance. Always check with your transport operator.
Photo: Renfe AVE and OUIGO trains at Madrid Puerta de Atocha (2021), resized. Phil Richards / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
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