Three workers unions called the strikes in protest at the “lack of personnel” and the “pitiful” service offered by the capital’s transport service with complaints including long waiting times and overcrowded carriages.
The stoppages are scheduled to take place between 7am and 9am, 3.30pm and 5.30pm and 6pm and 8pm – the busiest times of day for commuters travelling around the capital.
Commuters have already taken to social media in the run up to the strike to share their photographs and complain about the service and overcrowding on certain lines.
@metro_madrid hoy linea 9? Y mañana huelga..mal servicio,altos precios… pic.twitter.com/gqaViXddSF
— Jessica (@Chessy_7) October 21, 2015
“Today on Line 9. And tomorrow a strike. Bad service, high prices.”
The strike is the first for Madrid’s regional government lead by Cristina Cifuentes, who announced on Tuesday, two days before the strike, that Madrid metro would be contracting 360 new drivers: 180 on full-time contracts and 180 working part time.
She announced the regional government had made the decision to improve the service after receiving complaints about the capital's transport system.
Thursday’s strike might not be the only headache for commuters: Unions have also revealed they are planning at least two more strike days in November.
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