Spanish train drivers call three-day strike after deadly railway crashes

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by Sam Jones in MadridJanuary 22, 2026 at 03:31 PM

AI Summary

long article 4 min

Following two deadly train crashes in Spain that killed at least 44 people, the country's largest train drivers' union, Semaf, has called for a three-day nationwide strike from February 9-11. The strike aims to pressure authorities to improve railway safety standards for workers and passengers. The recent accidents include a collision near Adamuz that killed at least 43 and a derailment near Gelida caused by a collapsed retaining wall that killed one driver. Semaf claims numerous reports of poor track conditions have been ignored for months, leading to unsafe railway operations. Spain's transport minister acknowledges the drivers' concerns and hopes to avert the strike, emphasizing that the accidents were unrelated.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Catalunya Ràdio 30% Murcia 50% Óscar Puente 60% Córdoba 60% Andalucía 60% Gelida ×370% Adamuz ×270% Catalonia ×370% Semaf ×280% Spain ×290%

Keywords

train strike 90% train crashes 80% railway safety 80% rail workers 60% poor track conditions 50% safety standards 50% industrial action 50% train derailment 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Very Negative

Score: -0.60

Source Transparency

Source

The Guardian - World News

Political Lean

Center-Left (-0.40)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Spain

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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train strike train crashes railway safety rail workers poor track conditions safety standards industrial action train derailment

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