Ouigo has cancelled all its trains on every route in Spain on Friday 30 October and Monday 2 November because of a strike by drivers called by the Semaf union. According to Valencia Plaza, that is 40 trains, and almost 20,000 passengers are affected. The company announced the cancellations on the evening of 29 October.
Ouigo links the decision to a ruling by the National Court (Audiencia Nacional), which suspended the Transport Ministry's resolution on minimum services as a precautionary measure. The court's order is dated 28 October, and the company says it learned of it on 29 October. Ouigo says it therefore cannot guarantee which trains will run, and that cancelling everything avoids further confusion at stations. The ministry issued its resolution on 27 October, setting minimum services at an average of 72%. Ouigo had responded by cancelling the trains that fell outside that minimum.
Ouigo says its trains on Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November should run to the usual timetable. Passengers on cancelled services can change their ticket free of charge or claim a full refund. In both cases the company promises immediate compensation of up to 200% of the ticket price. It notifies passengers of cancellations by email, using the address linked to the booking.
The cancellations fall on the long weekend (puente) of 1 November, and on the days after the rail accident at Urda (Toledo) on 28 October, which has closed the Madrid - Andalusia line. According to À Punt, Renfe cannot start its alternative transport plan before Tuesday 3 November, because Semaf demanded that a 96-hour notice period be observed for timetable changes.
El Español - Alicante reports that on 29 October the Renfe drivers' strike also hit Cercanías commuter trains between Murcia and Alicante: before 09:00, only one of the first six services ran. Renfe advises checking the status of your train before going to the station and, if you can, avoiding non-essential travel on strike days.
Also on 29 October, according to À Punt, an Ouigo Alicante - Madrid train caught the overhead power line in a tunnel at Aranjuez. Passengers were moved to another train after three hours. Only one track is open, and Ouigo has not said when the train will be removed. The sources do not specify which Ouigo services to and from Alicante are cancelled.
