A plan for a general strike has been announced by Semaf, the union representing about 85% of Spanish train engineers, as a demand for guaranteed safety and reliability of the rail network after a week marked by deadly accidents.

Semaf confirmed the death of a 28-year-old trainee engineer in the Catalonia suburban crash, one of four engineers aboard the train, with the tragedy prompting renewed calls for safety improvements.

The union urged engineers to avoid work if overwhelmed by the week’s events and to report their status to supervisors, signaling a cautious stance on returning to service.

Adif cited additional hazards on lines, including a fallen tree, and said efforts were underway to resolve issues quickly and restore normal operations.

Investigations into the Sunday Adamuz high-speed collision focus on potential rail or wheel faults, with authorities ruling out sabotage and human error.

The union advised safety-first practices, encouraging workers to report emotional or mental strain and to seek support as needed.

The union is pressing for urgent safety measures and criminal accountability for those responsible for rail infrastructure safety, and has signaled a possible general strike without fixed dates.

Catalan suburban trains were halted for track inspections after the Tuesday crash, while Adif ordered a comprehensive safety check across the network.

Semaf urged not to resume service without adequate safety guarantees and called for suspending all Spain-wide routes that could face similar weather-related risks as Catalonia.

Police noted the Catalonia crash involved four drivers on the affected train—the main driver plus three trainees.

The Catalonia incident involved a trainee’s death and injuries to 37 others when a train struck a guardrail wall amid stormy conditions; another nearby suburban train hit a fallen rock without casualties.

Further tragedy occurred with another high-speed crash in Adamuz, Córdoba, raising the week’s death toll to over 40.