Train drivers call a general strike after the Adamuz and Gelida accidents
The Semaf union announces that it will demand criminal accountability from those responsible for ensuring the safety of railway infrastructure.
BarcelonaThe Spanish Union of Railway Drivers (Semaf) has announced a general strike across the entire railway sector following the serious accidents in Adamuz (Córdoba) and Gelida (Barcelona), which in the last 48 hours have resulted in several fatalities, including three train drivers, as well as numerous injuries. Semaf, the largest union in the sector, described the situation as "unacceptable" and criticized the ongoing deterioration of rail service. The powerful union is demanding urgent measures to ensure the safety of both railway personnel and passengers. Furthermore, Semaf has announced that it will demand "criminal accountability for those responsible for ensuring the safety of railway infrastructure" for the accidents that occurred last Sunday and Tuesday. It also demands that the resumption of commuter rail service in Catalonia not take place "without sufficient safety guarantees for operation." The executive committee of the Semaf union called last night for a complete halt to commuter rail service in Catalonia. They even issued a warning to train drivers not to resume service upon arrival at stations. In a statement, the union also announced that, from now on, at the start of service, train drivers from all railway companies will demand guarantees of their safety along their routes. When asked about the strike in an interview on Telecinco, the Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, expressed his willingness to negotiate with the union and attributed the situation to the drivers' "moral state" following the Adamuz accident and the commuter rail incident. "They are clearly affected," the minister said. "We will try to prevent the strike; it's related to the loss of two colleagues this week," Puente stated, following the deaths of two train drivers in both Andalusia and Catalonia. Regarding the train accident in Gelida, the minister attributed it to the recent rains, which he blamed for the collapse of the wall that caused the accident. In any case, he also said that the facts would be investigated. Meanwhile, the mayor of Gelida, Lluís Valls, interviewed on the same television channel, also considered that the weather conditions could have caused the tragedy, but also asserted that "they were unaware that such a risk existed."
