A strike that threatened to disrupt rail travel across Portugal on Friday, 30 October 2026, has been called off following progress in negotiations between railway unions and the government. The decision, announced on Wednesday, 28 October, comes after CP – Comboios de Portugal had warned passengers of possible cancellations and delays over three days.
The 24-hour stoppage was due to involve train conductors, ticket office employees and other staff represented by the railway union SFRCI. The dispute had prompted CP, Portugal’s national rail operator, to warn that services could be affected from Thursday, 29 October, through to Saturday, 31 October.
Those strike-related disruptions are now expected to be avoided after the union withdrew its strike notice. However, passengers travelling over the coming days should still check their train’s status, as the cancellation of industrial action does not guarantee that every service will operate without delays.
Why the strike was cancelled
The decision followed a meeting on Tuesday between representatives of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing, CP management and the Sindicato Ferroviário da Revisão Comercial Itinerante (SFRCI).
According to a union statement reported by Portuguese public broadcaster RTP, the discussions produced positive developments in the ongoing labour dispute. Government representatives and CP management indicated that they were willing to address several of the union’s demands, prompting its decision to withdraw the planned walkout.
The dispute covers a range of employment issues, including pay and career progression, compensation for work carried out on rest days, revisions to workplace agreements and improved protection for railway employees against assaults. The union has also called for measures to improve workers’ conditions to be considered in Portugal’s 2027 state budget.
Although the strike has been cancelled, the underlying dispute has not been resolved. SFRCI has stressed that its decision does not mean abandoning its demands and that the willingness expressed by the government and CP must lead to concrete commitments.
The union has also left open the possibility of further industrial action if negotiations fail to produce satisfactory results.
What passengers should know
The cancellation is particularly relevant for passengers who had planned to travel on Friday, including those using CP’s Alfa Pendular, Intercidades and regional services. Before the announcement, CP had warned that the strike could affect train operations on the day itself and potentially the days immediately before and after.
Travellers who made alternative arrangements because of the planned stoppage should check their bookings and current departure information before making further changes. Anyone who has already requested a ticket exchange or refund should consult CP directly about their booking rather than assume that the original ticket remains valid.
Updated travel notices and service information are available through the official CP website.
For now, Friday’s planned strike has been withdrawn, giving passengers more certainty ahead of the weekend. The longer-term outcome of the dispute will depend on whether the commitments discussed with the government and CP management result in changes to pay, working conditions and staff protection.
