Outcry in Rural Spain: Renfe's AVE Cuts Spark Protests

Protests Erupt in A Gudiña Over Renfe's AVE Schedule Changes A Gudiña, Spain – Hundreds of residents, local officials, and commuters staged a protest on May 24th at the A Gudiña train station, voicing their outrage over Renfe's decision to reduce the number of daily AVE high-speed train stops on the Madrid-Galicia route. The new schedule, effective June 9th, will cut the number of daily stops in Sanabria from nine to six, impacting the daily lives of many. "This is unacceptable," stated one protester, a mother whose daughter works in Madrid. "The train is the only way she can travel, and now she'll lose her morning commute." Another resident echoed the sentiment, highlighting the impact on those with family in Salamanca. The mayor of A Gudiña, Néstor Ogando, called for dialogue with Renfe, emphasizing the importance of maintaining at least one morning train. He argued, "It's unfair that to shorten the Vigo-Madrid journey, those in the middle are disregarded." The reduction in stops will decrease the travel time between Vigo and Madrid to three hours and 50 minutes. Renfe justifies the schedule changes by citing the need to reduce travel times. However, the protesters argue that the convenience of a shorter journey for some shouldn't come at the expense of essential transportation for others. The protest underscores the ongoing challenges faced by rural communities in maintaining adequate transportation access.