Renfe has suspended nine trains in Galicia following the simultaneous absence of four train drivers based in Vigo, an incident that has severely disrupted service on the Vigo–Santiago–A Coruña Atlantic corridor. The operator announced that it was forced to cancel services scheduled for April 20 and implement an alternative bus transport plan to limit the impact on passengers.
According to the company, the absence of these employees, combined with the lack of prior warning, made it impossible to cover scheduled shifts, despite attempts to redeploy staff. The situation particularly affected the early morning hours and disrupted key connections between Vigo, Santiago, Vilagarcía and A Coruña.
Nine services canceled on the Atlantic axis
The suspended services included several trains between Vigo and A Coruña, as well as connections between Santiago and Vilagarcía, which directly affected one of the most heavily used regional routes in Galicia. Local media reported that approximately 2,100 seats were taken out of service throughout the day.
Renfe attempted to mitigate the situation by organizing an alternative road transport plan and increasing staff at stations, but the incident once again highlights the vulnerability of services when train drivers are unavailable.
An incident that once again raises the issue of staffing
The cancellation of nine trains in a single day due to a shortage of engineers brings into sharp focus the vulnerability of operations when staffing issues arise. Although Renfe implemented an alternative bus transport plan and attempted to mitigate the impact at stations, the incident directly affected service on regional routes.
In Galicia, where trains on the Atlantic axis play a key role in daily mobility, such situations place additional pressure on service regularity and the operator’s ability to maintain normal operations.
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