Railway Engineers in Spain Announce Three-Day Strike Over Safety Concerns

The Spanish Union of Railway Engineers (Semaf) is planning a strike lasting three days in February, aiming to urge the government for improved rail safety measures following two tragic train accidents this week that resulted in multiple fatalities.

According to the Spanish news agency Europa Press, the strike is scheduled from February 9 to 11. This decision follows a recent train derailment on Sunday that claimed 43 lives and injured over 150 people in southern Spain. Just hours later, a wall collapsed as a train was passing through Guerrida, near Barcelona, leading to the death of the train driver and injuries to at least 37 others.

The newspaper El Pais reported that the deceased driver was a 28-year-old individual from Seville.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Semaf expressed concerns over the ongoing decline in safety standards within Spain’s rail systems. They highlighted a recent incident near Macane, where a stone fell onto the tracks, striking a train but fortunately resulting in no injuries or fatalities.

“To ensure the safety of both professionals and passengers, it’s imperative that we implement various measures on the network without delay,” remarked the union in their statement.

As a response to these fatal incidents, railway unions are advocating for a general strike across the rail transport sector, aiming for stronger safety guarantees for railway infrastructure and accountability for those responsible for its maintenance.

“The serious accidents in Adams and Guerrida, both of which resulted in loss of life, have marked a critical moment that requires immediate action to secure rail operations,” a Semaf representative stated.

Oscar Puente, Spain’s Minister of Transport, acknowledged the emotional sentiments of the train drivers in relation to the impending strike, yet he expressed disagreement concerning the effectiveness of a general strike. He conveyed his “absolute confidence” in the Spanish rail system.

Deutsche Welle reported that just before these strike dates were announced, another Spanish trade union, CCOO, indicated that the safety of railway workers and users could no longer be maintained under the existing conditions. They threatened to call for a strike or other measures if no significant actions were taken.

In the midst of these discussions, Puente committed to meeting with train drivers to negotiate an agreement that might prevent the strike, insisting that such a stoppage would not bring about any beneficial results.