Renfe suspends nine rail services in Galicia

Renfe train suspensions in Galicia disrupted the Atlantic corridor between Vigo, Santiago and A Coruña. Four drivers based in Vigo were absent at the same time. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The operator canceled the services scheduled for April 20. It also introduced an alternative bus transport plan. This was intended to limit the impact on passengers.

Renfe train suspensions in Galicia hit the Atlantic corridor

According to Renfe, the drivers were absent at the same time and without prior notice. That made it impossible to cover scheduled shifts, despite attempts to redeploy staff. The disruption was most noticeable early in the morning. It affected key links between Vigo, Santiago, Vilagarcía and A Coruña.

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Several of the canceled services ran between Vigo and A Coruña. Others linked Santiago and Vilagarcía. Together, these services affected one of Galicia’s busiest regional rail routes. Local media, including Galicia Press, reported roughly 2,100 seats were out of service that day.

Staffing issues and alternative transport

Renfe arranged alternative road transport and increased staff at stations. Even so, the incident again exposed how vulnerable services can be when drivers are absent.

Nine canceled services in a single day stemmed from a shortage of train drivers. It again drew attention to the fragility of operations when staffing problems arise. In Galicia, trains on the Atlantic axis are important for daily mobility. Incidents of this kind place added pressure on service regularity. They also put pressure on the operator’s ability to maintain normal operations.

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