Published on : 30 Oct 2026
Spanish low-cost high-speed operator Ouigo has cancelled every one of its trains today, Friday, October 30, and on Monday, November 2 — about 40 services affecting almost 20,000 travellers — after a court order left the strike’s minimum-service rules in limbo.
The drivers’ union SEMAF called 24-hour strikes at Ouigo for both days. The Transport Ministry had ordered that around 71–72% of services must run, and Ouigo had cancelled only the trains outside that minimum. But on Wednesday, Spain’s National Court provisionally suspended the ministry’s minimum-services order, and on Thursday Ouigo said it could no longer guarantee which trains would operate — so it cancelled the lot.
The timing is awkward. The cancellations land on the All Saints bridge weekend, with Spain’s rail network already under strain from the Renfe drivers’ strike on Thursday and the deadly Urda collision that closed the Madrid–Andalusia high-speed line. Here’s what UK, US, Canadian, Australian and NZ travellers need to know.
Published: October 30, 2026 — Friday Cancelled: All Ouigo trains on Friday, October 30 and Monday, November 2, 2026 — about 40 trains across all its routes Travellers affected: Almost 20,000 Running as normal: Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1 Why: SEMAF drivers’ strike over the application of the collective agreement; the National Court suspended the ministerial minimum-services order on October 28 Ouigo’s explanation: The decision is to avoid further confusion at stations in the current context, and it says it respects the right to strike Your options: Free ticket change or full refund; Ouigo has also announced additional compensation, reported as up to 200% of the ticket price Related disruption: Madrid–Andalusia high-speed services suspended after the Urda collision; Renfe’s alternative transport plan cannot start before November 3
SEMAF called the Ouigo strike on October 7, covering Friday, October 30 and Monday, November 2. The Ministry of Transport then fixed minimum services averaging about 71–72%, which meant 55 of the 77 scheduled trains across the two days would run. Ouigo had even said all of its Madrid–Zaragoza–Barcelona trains would operate.
That changed after the National Court issued an order on Wednesday, October 28, provisionally setting aside the ministry’s minimum-services resolution. Ouigo learned of the ruling on Thursday and concluded it could not say which trains would run on the two strike days. It cancelled the entire timetable for both days instead, saying the move was solely to avoid more confusion for passengers at a time of major disruption on Spain’s railways.
Ouigo’s earlier statement that Madrid–Barcelona trains would run unaffected no longer applies.
| Date | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 30 | All trains cancelled | 24-hour SEMAF strike |
| Sat, Oct 31 | Running as normal | Ouigo confirms normal programme |
| Sun, Nov 1 | Running as normal | All Saints’ Day |
| Mon, Nov 2 | All trains cancelled | 24-hour SEMAF strike; extends the bridge weekend |
| Nov 6, Nov 9, Dec 4, Dec 8 | Partial stoppages announced | Check Ouigo before booking |
| Option | What It Means | How to Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Free change | Move your reservation without paying a change fee | Use “manage my booking” on Ouigo’s website or app; look at Oct 31 and Nov 1 first, since those trains run normally |
| Full refund | The whole amount of the ticket back | Request through Ouigo’s customer channels |
| Additional compensation | Ouigo has announced extra compensation on top of the refund, reported as up to 200% of the ticket price | Confirm the exact terms and how to claim on Ouigo’s site before relying on the figure |
| Switch operator | Book Renfe or Iryo where they serve your route | Expect higher prices and fuller trains, as roughly 20,000 displaced travellers look for seats |
| Fly or go by road | Flights or coaches on long routes | Book early; the bridge weekend is busy |
Keep: your booking confirmation, cancellation emails and receipts for any replacement transport or hotels.
| Issue | Status | What It Means for Travellers |
|---|---|---|
| Renfe drivers’ strike | Ended Thursday, October 29 | Some trains within the minimum-service plan did not run: about 16.9% of commercial services and 21.59% of public services in that plan were suppressed |
| Madrid commuter lines (Cercanías) | Lines C-1, C-3, C-4, C-8a and C-8b were suspended during Thursday’s strike | Check status before travelling to Madrid airport by train |
| Madrid–Andalusia high-speed line | Closed since the Urda collision on October 28 | Renfe has paused high-speed ticket sales for the corridor until December 13, though it says it will resume sooner if Adif reopens the line |
| Renfe alternative transport plan | Cannot start on Friday as planned | Renfe says SEMAF demanded the 96-hour notice period for changes to service schedules, so the plan cannot start before Tuesday, November 3; the final design is due before then |
| Iryo | All Madrid–Andalusia services cancelled | Iryo says it will refund affected tickets and provide alternative transport |
| Ouigo Madrid–Andalusia | Suspended until at least November 2 | Now moot, as all Ouigo trains are cancelled on Oct 30 and Nov 2 |
Ouigo’s drivers have further partial stoppages planned for November 6 and 9, and December 4 and 8. Renfe says it will announce the details of its Madrid–Andalusia alternative plan before November 3, and the future of the high-speed line depends on when Adif can reopen it. We’ll update this article as Ouigo, Renfe, Iryo and Adif publish new information.
Posted By : Vinay
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and is based on information available at the time of publication. Travel advisories, airline schedules, airport operations, visa requirements, government regulations, and other travel-related information are subject to change without prior notice. While Travel Tourister makes reasonable efforts to verify information using official announcements, government publications, airline and airport communications, and other reliable sources, we cannot guarantee that all information remains complete, accurate, or up to date at all times. Readers should independently verify any information that may affect their travel plans with the relevant airline, airport authority, government agency, embassy, or other official source before making travel, financial, or other decisions. Travel Tourister shall not be liable for any direct or indirect loss, inconvenience, or damages arising from the use of or reliance on the information contained in this article. Nothing in this publication constitutes legal, immigration, financial, or professional travel advice. If you believe any information in this article is inaccurate or outdated, please contact our editorial team. We review all credible correction requests promptly and update our content whenever appropriate.
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