RAIL staff will be on strike in Catalunya tomorrow and Wednesday, having failed to reach an agreement with the ministry of public works over the future of the train service.

RENFE lines throughout the region will be affected for 48 hours, confirm the unions which have called the strike.

The dispute relates to the regional and central governments’ decision to transfer the franchise of the rail network in 2011.

Staff are not against this in principal, but want to see their jobs protected.

Minimum rail services will be running during rush hour times –  with 75 per cent of trains continuing in operation from 06.00hrs to 09.00hrs, between 14.00 and 16.00hrs and 18.30 and 20.30hrs.

At other times, only half the usual number of trains will be running.

Medium- and long-distance trains will see a third of their services cancelled for the next two days.