Spain’s new Sustainable Mobility Law, approved in Congress on Thursday, will force Renfe to reinstate its former punctuality compensation scheme.
It means passengers will again be entitled to refunds when a high-speed or long-distance train arrives more than 15 minutes late.
The move comes after the Partido Popular succeeded in pushing through an amendment, backed by its majority in the Senate, requiring the return of Renfe’s pre-2024 compensation rules.
Those rules were replaced last year with a much less generous system for travellers.
Under the updated text, ‘the Government will reinstate, with effect from January 1 2026, Renfe’s previous punctuality and refund commitments as they existed before the July 2024 changes.’
This will once again guarantee passengers 50% refunds for delays of 15 minutes, and 100% refunds for delays of 30 minutes, on high-speed and long-distance services.
However, Transport Ministry sources said the Government will try to stop the amendment taking effect, arguing it would leave Renfe at a disadvantage compared with private competitors Iryo and Ouigo – neither of which would be subject to the same compensation rules.
Ministry officials, speaking to EFE, described the PP’s amendment as ‘demagogic’ and ‘pure populism’, insisting it will not change what passengers actually receive.
They say Renfe will explore legal avenues to continue applying its current compensation framework, claiming the amendment is designed solely to penalise the state operator.
