Passengers wait during rail strike at the Atocha station in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 31, 2019. Spanish national rail operator Renfe has canceled hundreds of train journeys on one of the busiest travel days of the year due to a strike over staffing levels. The company said more than 700 scheduled services wouldn't operate Wednesday, a day when many people would normally head off for their summer vacation. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
The Associated Press
MADRID (AP) - Spanish national rail operator Renfe has canceled hundreds of trains on one of the busiest travel days of the year due to a strike over staffing levels.
The company said more than 700 scheduled services wouldn't operate Wednesday, when many people are heading off on their summer vacation. Most Spaniards take their summer breaks in August.
The Spanish General Workers' Federation also plans walkouts on three other heavy vacation traffic days - Aug. 14 and 31, and Sept. 1.
The walkouts are held in two periods of four hours each. The government stipulated that a minimum number of services must run on each day of the strikes.
The workers' federation argues that a shortage of staff is leading to overwork and lower service quality. It says some 14,000 people work for state-owned Renfe.
Passengers walk among trains parked during rail strike at the Atocha station in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 31, 2019. Spanish national rail operator Renfe has canceled hundreds of train journeys on one of the busiest travel days of the year due to a strike over staffing levels. The company said more than 700 scheduled services wouldn't operate Wednesday, a day when many people would normally head off for their summer vacation.(AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
The Associated Press
A passenger walks among trains parked during rail strike at the Atocha station in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 31, 2019. Spanish national rail operator Renfe has canceled hundreds of train journeys on one of the busiest travel days of the year due to a strike over staffing levels. The company said more than 700 scheduled services wouldn't operate Wednesday, a day when many people would normally head off for their summer vacation. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
The Associated Press
A worker walks among trains parked at the Atocha station during a rail strike in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 31, 2019. Spanish national rail operator Renfe has canceled hundreds of train journeys on one of the busiest travel days of the year due to a strike over staffing levels. The company said more than 700 scheduled services wouldn't operate Wednesday, a day when many people would normally head off on their summer vacation. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
The Associated Press
A railway worker gestures among trains parked during rail strike at the Atocha station in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 31, 2019. Spanish national rail operator Renfe has canceled hundreds of train journeys on one of the busiest travel days of the year due to a strike over staffing levels. The company said more than 700 scheduled services wouldn't operate Wednesday, a day when many people would normally head off for their summer vacation.(AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
The Associated Press
A railway worker walks among trains parked during rail strike at the Atocha station in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 31, 2019. Spanish national rail operator Renfe has canceled hundreds of train journeys on one of the busiest travel days of the year due to a strike over staffing levels. The company said more than 700 scheduled services wouldn't operate Wednesday, a day when many people would normally head off for their summer vacation.(AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
The Associated Press