The high cost of living and the excessive number of incidents are driving commuter train drivers out of the industry.

BarcelonaCatalan train drivers are a minority in the commuter rail network. Year after year, the rail network is staffed by drivers from other autonomous communities. Most are young—between 20 and 30 years old—and choose Catalonia to settle temporarily and train. Industry sources say that the Catalan rail service provides a pool of train drivers for Renfe, but they also admit that few decide to stay indefinitely: some change destinations after two or three years, either to return home or to find a less problematic train service. Sources within the sector confirm to ARA that this trend has existed for years, despite efforts to retain train drivers and, above all, to encourage interest from potential applicants residing in Catalonia. For example, with courses subsidized by the Generalitat (Catalan government), which can cover up to half of the €20,000 cost of training. However, unions and workers point to two reasons behind the exodus to Cercanías (commuter rail): Catalonia has a higher cost of living and the most complex railway infrastructure in Spain. Regarding the high cost of living, it's worth noting that a train driver's salary ranges from €22,000 at the start of their career to €45,000 in higher categories (including bonuses), but this salary doesn't provide the same economic stability in Barcelona as it does in Mà. On the other hand, there are the track layouts, which are the most intricate or oldest in the country—there are many tunnels, numerous junctions and crossings, and daily overlap of different services (Cercanías, Regional, Medium Distance) on the same rails—and the numerous incidents that occur, including fatal accidents and collisions.

"Commuter rail is a testing ground: we have the youngest Renfe workforce in all of Spain," says Francisco Cárdenas, a train driver with over 40 years of experience. According to Cárdenas, who is also a railway representative for the UGT union, train drivers who choose the Catalan rail network for their training learn the profession in five or six months and graduate with top marks. Afterward, when they move to other regions, they find nothing similar. And, in fact, this is what many want: to work in a less "intense" system. "In almost all Spanish rail networks, there are train drivers who work on a temporary basis; it's not just in Catalonia, since the recruitment process is nationwide. But now it's true that we see many people who don't want to stay, not even the Catalans, and we don't know why," sources from Semaf, the largest union representing Renfe drivers, told ARA.

First green shoots

To become a train driver, applicants must secure a place at one of Renfe's twelve training centers in Spain—in Catalonia, the center is located in Hospitalet de Llobregat—complete over two years of training, including practical experience and multiple exams, and pass a psychometric test. The top-performing candidates are awarded one of the positions Renfe advertises annually throughout Spain. And, as with any public sector job, train drivers working in a company-assigned position can request a transfer or a change of assignment later on. Such transfers are granted based on company needs and agreements, as well as available vacancies. "Here, we work with a three-year tenure, but we can't deny someone a transfer request before the end of their term or force them to work where they don't want to," Cárdenas admits.

Last year, for the first time, all 28 trainee positions at Renfe's training center in Hospitalet were filled by Catalan students. Some Catalan applicants who hadn't been offered a place there had to go elsewhere. While this is just the first sign of progress, those in the industry are hopeful that it will mark a turning point.