Spain's general strike cancels a quarter of AVE trains and 234 flights

Spain's general strike on Wednesday cancelled 24% of AVE and long-distance trains and 234 flights — 5.2% of the 4,529 scheduled at Spanish airports up to 10am — as rail operator Renfe reported a staff participation rate of 6.8% and transport disruption spread unevenly across the country's networks.

The heaviest rail impact fell on the Madrid Cercanías and Barcelona Rodalies commuter networks (Spain's suburban rail systems). Renfe described the effect across the country as "uneven". Official figures from the operator showed 20% of trains cancelled overall, with the commuter network running at 75% of capacity during peak hours and 50% off-peak. Some Madrid passengers reported in the morning that trains were in fact running above these guaranteed minimums.

Passengers described "empty" stations at Madrid Atocha and Chamartín on Wednesday, alongside long queues at intercity bus stops in the Madrid region.

What does the strike change for each network?

In Madrid, the metro set minimum services at 80% in peak hours and 50% off-peak, and ran relatively normally. Road traffic in the capital fell by 13%, while passenger numbers on the EMT municipal bus network dropped by 63% during the morning rush hour compared with usual levels, according to Madrid city council.

The CCOO union condemned police charges and the use of pepper spray against pickets attempting to prevent buses from leaving the EMT depot in Carabanchel early in the morning.

Barcelona saw the most severe disruption. Train services were virtually suspended entirely, and the metro network plus the TMB bus fleet came to a complete standstill at 9.30am. Service is not due to resume until 4.30pm, following the end of the first period of minimum services.

Pickets also set up 50 roadblocks across Catalonia, blocking access to Barcelona, cutting off Girona via the AP-7 motorway and sealing access to the port of Tarragona.

Which rail corridors are worst hit?

Minimum services are guaranteeing 65% of medium-distance trains and 73% of high-speed and long-distance services. Three corridors carry the bulk of the cancellations:

• The north-east corridor linking Madrid, Aragon and Catalonia: 27.3% of trains cancelled
• The northern corridor linking Madrid, Castilla y León, Asturias and Galicia: 23.8% cancelled
• The eastern and Mediterranean corridor between Madrid, Catalonia, Valencia and Murcia: 20% cancelled

Regional governments set their own floors. The Basque Country fixed minimums at 30% for buses, trains, trams and funiculars. Andalucía set 60% for urban and inter-city transport, including the Seville and Malaga metros, both of which the regional government says are running at 100% capacity. In Valencia, Metrovalencia and the Alicante TRAM set minimum service levels at 80%, while pickets blocked road access to the city via the V-21 and the Ronda Nord.

How are airports coping?

Airport operator Aena reported 234 cancelled flights from the 4,529 scheduled nationwide up to 10am. El Prat Airport in Barcelona was the worst affected, with 11% of its flights cancelled.

The Ministry of Transport has set minimum service levels of between 18% and 85%, varying by route type and the airports involved:

• Domestic flights to or from non-mainland territories: 56% to 85% of scheduled operations per airport
• Canary Islands routes: 56% to 74%, depending on the airport
• Balearic Islands routes: 68% to 75%
• Ceuta: 80%; Melilla: 59%
• International flights and mainland routes where public transport alternatives take five hours or more: 39% to 64%

Aena said airlines operating in its network had rescheduled flights and rebooked passengers onto earlier departures because of the strike.

The figures so far cover only the first phase of the stoppage. With Barcelona's metro and buses due back at 4.30pm and minimum service windows still in force across rail and aviation, the full daily cost in lost passengers and cancelled services will become clear only once operators publish end-of-day totals.