Renfe strike in Málaga on October 29: train timetables, affected services and minimum operating levels

Passengers planning to travel by train in Málaga on Thursday, October 29, should check their schedules before leaving home. A 24-hour strike called by the Spanish Train Drivers' Union (Semaf) will affect Renfe services throughout Spain, including railway connections across Málaga province.

Spain's Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has established minimum service levels to ensure that some trains continue operating, although there will be reductions affecting Cercanías commuter trains, Media Distancia regional services, AVE high-speed trains and long-distance connections.

The strike comes at a particularly busy time for travel, just before the All Saints' Day weekend, when many passengers are expected to use the railway network to visit other cities or travel around the Costa del Sol.

What minimum train services will operate in Málaga during the October 29 strike?

Renfe has announced the minimum operating levels established to maintain essential rail connections during the industrial action.

The minimum services will be as follows:

• Málaga Cercanías commuter trains: 75% of normal services during peak hours and 50% for the rest of the day.
• Media Distancia regional trains: 65% of normal services.
• AVE and long-distance trains: 73% of normal services.

These percentages apply to the overall scheduled services within each category and do not mean that every route will maintain exactly the same frequency.

Passengers should therefore check whether their particular train is included among the guaranteed services.

Málaga Cercanías timetables during the strike: C1 and C2 lines

Both Cercanías commuter railway lines in Málaga will be affected by the strike.

The C1 line, connecting Málaga city with the airport, Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Fuengirola, will operate fewer trains than usual.

Minimum service requirements will also apply to the C2 line, connecting Málaga with Álora, via stations in the province's inland areas.

Peak hours: 75% of normal services

The Ministry has identified three periods of higher passenger demand during which 75% of regular services must be maintained:

• 6:00 am to 9:00 am
• 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
• 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Outside these periods, minimum services will be reduced to 50% of normally scheduled trains.

This means passengers using Cercanías to commute to work, attend school or university, or reach the airport may experience different frequencies from those of a normal Thursday.

What will happen to trains between Málaga and Fuengirola?

The C1 is one of the most widely used railway connections in Málaga province, particularly among passengers travelling between Málaga city and towns such as Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Fuengirola.

The line will continue operating during the strike, although not all regular services will run.

Reduced frequencies may lead to longer waiting times at some stations, making it advisable to check individual departure times before travelling.

Media Distancia trains operating between Málaga, Seville and Granada

Media Distancia regional services will maintain approximately 65% of normal operations.

The measure affects railway connections between Málaga María Zambrano station and destinations including Seville and Granada.

According to the list of minimum services published for Thursday, October 29, the following trains are scheduled to operate.

Trains between Seville and Málaga

The published list also includes additional connections between the two cities:

Trains between Málaga and Granada

Some regional rail connections between Málaga and Granada will also be maintained:

These times are taken from the published list of minimum services, so passengers are advised to check them again before travelling.

Minimum services on Antequera–Algeciras rail connections

The strike will also affect rail connections serving inland areas of Málaga province.

Four services linking Antequera and Algeciras appear on the published minimum service list.

Passengers using these connections should check both the train's operating status and the exact departure and arrival stations.

Which AVE high-speed trains will run between Málaga and Madrid on October 29?

The industrial action will also affect passengers travelling on AVE high-speed and long-distance rail services.

For these categories, the Ministry has established minimum services of 73%, meaning some regularly scheduled trains will not operate.

The published list of minimum services includes the following connections between Málaga María Zambrano and Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes.

AVE trains from Málaga to Madrid

AVE trains from Madrid to Málaga

These trains appear on the published service list. Passengers should confirm the timetable and operating status of their particular train directly with Renfe, as operational changes may occur.

Other high-speed connections involving Málaga and Antequera

The published list also includes the following services:

Train 02072 also appears on the published list, although its route description contains information that should be checked through official channels before being used to plan a journey.

Can passengers change or cancel Renfe tickets because of the strike?

Renfe has introduced measures to make it easier for affected passengers to change or cancel their bookings.

Passengers whose trains are affected by the strike may benefit from the company's extraordinary conditions allowing ticket changes or cancellations without additional charges.

Before requesting any changes, travellers should check the conditions applying to their booking and confirm whether their train is included among the minimum services.

Updated information is available on the official Renfe website.

Why are train drivers striking on October 29?

The strike has been called by the Spanish Train Drivers' Union (Semaf) and involves train drivers employed by the Renfe Group.

The industrial action is scheduled to run from 12:01 am until 11:59 pm on Thursday, October 29.

The union's demands include issues relating to railway safety, emergency response procedures and the implementation of commitments previously agreed upon.

Renfe, meanwhile, maintains that it has fulfilled the commitments within its responsibility and argues that some of the union's demands fall outside the company's authority.

The disagreement has led to a nationwide day of industrial action that will affect rail transport in numerous Spanish cities.

Advice for travelling by train in Málaga during the strike

With fewer trains operating, passengers can take several precautions to reduce the risk of travel disruptions.

Check your train number: For Media Distancia and high-speed services, confirm that your booked train is included among those guaranteed to operate.

Review Cercanías timetables: Train frequencies will differ between peak hours and the rest of the day.

Allow extra waiting time: Fewer services may result in more passengers using certain trains and stations.

Monitor Renfe announcements: Operating conditions may be updated before or during the strike.

Consider alternative transport: This may be particularly important for airport journeys or trips involving connections with other forms of public transport.

The strike comes just before the All Saints' Day weekend

Thursday, October 29, will be an important travel day for passengers planning journeys ahead of the All Saints' Day weekend.

Reduced services will affect both everyday travel within Málaga province and connections with Madrid, Seville, Granada and other destinations.

Although Renfe will maintain a significant proportion of its trains under the established minimum service requirements, passengers are strongly advised to check their specific train rather than assume that normal timetables will apply.

Planning journeys in advance and checking for updates will help travellers minimise inconvenience during the 24-hour strike.