Two collisions a year claimed 115 lives! Spanish train drivers go on strike on 10th, commuting traffic paralyzed

On the 28th of last month, the second high-speed rail collision occurred in Spain this year, and 69 people were killed.

Two serious high-speed rail collisions occurred in Spain this year, resulting in a total of 115 fatalities. Train drivers launched a general strike on the 10th, demanding that the government increase investment in railway maintenance and safety facilities. The strike has plunged rail traffic across Spain into chaos, with commuter and long-distance trains in the capital Madrid and Barcelona and other places largely suspended, affecting the schedules of tens of thousands of passengers.

According to Reuters, Spain's national railway company (Renfe) said that about 40% of the services of medium and long-distance trains were canceled that day, affecting more than 4,000 passengers; up to 90% of the Madrid commuter rail network was canceled, and 50% of the trains in the Barcelona area were also suspended.

The train drivers' union criticized the government for having promised to negotiate to improve railway safety after a high-speed rail accident in the south in January that killed 46 people, but abruptly suspended negotiations in April. Last month, another two-car collision occurred on the same route, killing 69 people.

On the day of the strike, King Felipe VI and Queen Leticia of Spain made a special trip to Toledo Cathedral to attend a memorial ceremony for the 69 victims of the collision last month. Faced with strong demands from railway unions to strengthen safety maintenance, the newly appointed acting transport minister is under tremendous pressure to restart negotiations and restore railway safety.