Spanish train services were disrupted on Monday as drivers launched a three-day strike over safety concerns.

A high-speed collision in the southern Andalusia region killed 45 people on January 18, and two days later a driver was killed and four passengers were seriously injured after a containment wall fell on the track following heavy rains near Barcelona, derailing a commuter train.

According to Spanish law, essential services must be guaranteed during strikes. This means that only a limited number of employees are permitted to strike at any given time.

The Ministry of Transport ordered that up to 73% of long-distance trains continue to run nationwide. The state-owned railway company Renfe announced that lower minimum service levels have been set for local and regional trains.

Transport Minister Oscar Puente held weekend talks with unions to avert the walkout, but negotiations fell through.

SEMAF, the train drivers union leading the strike, says railway workers are demanding a "structural change in safety."

Rising passenger numbers strain high-speed rail network

The union says the rail system is deteriorating and is demanding stronger safety and maintenance guarantees.

In an August letter to rail operator Adif, the union warned of severe wear on several lines, including the site of January's crashes.

"It's a vicious circle," union leader Diego Martin told Reuters. "Track defects damage trains, and train defects further damage the track."

There is also a question of whether maintenance of the network is keeping pace with passenger demand.

Nearly 40 million passengers used a high-speed train in Spain in 2024, almost double the 2019 number, but the vast majority of spending went to new infrastructure, with only about 16% earmarked for maintenance, renewal and upgrades.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is due to brief parliament on Wednesday on the failures in the rail system.

Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko