11N rail strike: why Rodalies will run only 25%

If your journey is on Rodalies or Catalonia’s regional services, the reference for November 11 is 25% of normal service during the peak periods defined by the Generalitat—and no minimum service outside those periods. For networks covered by the national order, Renfe reports 75% for Cercanías at peak times, 50% during the rest of the day, 65% for Media Distancia and 73% for Alta Velocidad/Larga Distancia. The figures are not contradictory: they belong to different decisions and territorial scopes.

It is also important to separate the 24-hour general strike on Wednesday, November 11, from the rail stoppages on November 10 and 12. A percentage alone does not confirm that a specific train will run. The final check should be made against the relevant line timetable and official channels before traveling.

The 75% and 25% figures answer different questions

Spain’s Ministry of Transport established national minimum services for the November 11 general strike at 75% of normal Cercanías services during peak periods and 50% for the rest of the day. The published windows are 6:00–9:00 a.m., 1:30–3:30 p.m. and 6:30–8:30 p.m. The same Renfe announcement states an average of 65% for Media Distancia, 73% for Alta Velocidad/Larga Distancia and 26% for freight.

In Catalonia, however, the Generalitat set a different framework for urban and interurban public transport. It covers Catalan Cercanías and regional services, as well as metro, buses, FGC, trams and other systems. The minimum is 25% of normal service from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. and from 4:30 to 9:00 p.m. Outside these windows, the Generalitat’s summary of the order sets no minimum percentage for passenger transport.

Travelers should therefore not choose the higher or lower figure; they need to identify the network operating their route.

Practical overview for November 11

| Network or service | Published minimum service | Announced periods |

|---|---:|---|

| Cercanías under the national framework | 75% at peak times; 50% otherwise | 6:00–9:00 a.m.; 1:30–3:30 p.m.; 6:30–8:30 p.m. |

| Media Distancia, national framework | 65% average | The source gives no time windows |

| Alta Velocidad/Larga Distancia | 73% | The source gives no time windows |

| Rodalies and Catalan regional services | 25% at peak times; no minimum outside them | 6:30–9:30 a.m.; 4:30–9:00 p.m. |

These are the local times shown by the Spanish authorities; no time-zone conversion has been made. “No minimum” does not automatically mean that no train can run. For Rodalies specifically, however, the operational page says there will be “no service” during the remainder of November 11. As operations may change, check the official channel again on the day of travel.

November 10, 11 and 12 are not one single stoppage

The Rodalies operational page distinguishes three days. On November 10, during the first strike called by the SEMAF train drivers’ union, minimum service is 66% from 6:00 to 9:30 a.m. and from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m., and 33% during the rest of the day.

November 11 is the 24-hour general strike. Rodalies follows the Catalan framework: 25% from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. and from 4:30 to 9:00 p.m., with no service during the rest of the day.

For November 12, the same page lists 66% from 6:20 to 9:20 a.m. and 33% from 2:20 to 5:20 p.m. and from 9:20 to 11:20 p.m. Outside those windows, service is expected to resume progressively, although operational restrictions may remain. The November 11 general-strike rule should not be applied automatically to November 10 or 12.

How to confirm a specific train

First, identify whether the ticket or route belongs to Rodalies de Catalunya, another Cercanías network, Media Distancia or Alta Velocidad/Larga Distancia. Then consult the corresponding list rather than relying only on the general percentage.

The Rodalies page provides line-by-line schedules for November 11, including R1, R2 Nord, R2, R2 Sud, R3, R4, R7, R8, R11, R13, R14, R15, R16, R17, RG1, RT1, RT2, RL3 and RL4, depending on the day and area served. The operator recommends planning in advance and checking timetables and service status before departure because normal frequencies may change.

The percentage describes the overall amount of service. It does not mean that three out of every four trains on every individual line will run, and it does not replace checking the exact service.

Train cancellation, voluntary cancellation and refunds

If a train is shown as cancelled, retain the ticket and the operational notice and contact Renfe through its official channels before departure. Renfe’s conditions page lists different rules according to ticket type and distinguishes changes from cancellations requested by the passenger. It states, for example, that a Básico ticket is not refundable when voluntarily cancelled, while other options and add-ons have their own conditions.

The supplied source does not detail, in the available extract, a specific refund rule for a train cancelled because of this strike. It would therefore be unsafe to treat voluntary-cancellation terms as the automatic answer to a service removed from the timetable. Confirm the procedure applying to the ticket with Renfe or the responsible seller, especially if it was bought through an intermediary. These are Spanish operator rules and should not be generalized to tickets governed by another seller’s terms. Keep all supporting documents until the request is resolved.