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ARCHIVED - Chaos in Madrid on first day of Renfe train strike
Passengers ‘crammed like sardines’ into the limited public transport available today in Madrid
Despite Spain’s national rail provider Renfe publically announcing its intention to strike over the coming days, thousands of commuters flocked to stations around Madrid on the first day of stoppages, Thursday September 30, only to be crammed like sardines into the reduced number of operating trains.
The latest strike has been called by Spain’s Train Engine Drivers and Workers Union (SEMAF) who have accused the government of using the coronavirus pandemic to lay off more than 700 staff. The strike is organised for eight days in total, and while the National Court has forbidden rush hour trains to reduce their capacity, at all other times of the day services will be down by 25%.
In all, Renfe will suspend the services of 892 high speed and long and medium-distance trains during the first four days of the action – September 30 and October 1, 4 and 5. Of the affected trains, 267 are Ave and long distance and 625 are medium distance. An additional 813 freight services will be on strike.
Additional stoppages are planned for October 7, 8, 11 and 12, but full details haven’t been released by Renfe yet. If the extra strikes go ahead, passenger travel will be majorly disrupted on Spain’s National Day (October 12), a public holiday across the country.
Disgruntled commuters took to social media today to criticise the action by Renfe, many insisting that minimum services weren’t being met and condemning the rail provider for forcing passengers to squeeze into overcrowded trains while the country is still in the grip of the fifth wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
Lo de ir en tren es increible... Peor que sardinas en lata. Foto de hoy en Atocha. pic.twitter.com/996lnBRnM3
— Alvaro Humanes (@alvarohr99) September 30, 2021
Image: @lublondeteacher on Twitter
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