Catalan government sets minimum services at 66% for July 19 Renfe strike
Protest organized over lack of workers in railway sector
The Catalan government has set minimum services at 66% during rush hour for the Rodalies train strike on July 19.
According to Renfe, 66% of an average working day's services will be provided from 6 am to 9:30 am, and between 5 pm and 8:30 pm.
For the rest of the day, the service will be at 33%.
According to CGT union, the strike was organized due to the lack of workers, which it describes as one of the greatest challenges the railway sector faces.
In an announcement made by Renfe, the railway company said it regretted the impact this may have on passengers. They also demanded the Catalan business department set higher minimum services of up to 75%.
Trains and public transport are always a hot topic in Catalonia, as commuters frequently complain about the "poor service" provided by the Rodalies network.
In 2022, at least one serious incident occurred in at least one point of the rail network four out of every five days, according to a report from Catalan news outlet El Periodico.
New incidents take place on the rail network regularly, causing disruptions to services and political debates on the management of trains and the railway system.