Preliminary Deal Ends Metrotenerife Strike, Service Posts Record 25M Passengers
Metrotenerife has reached a preliminary agreement to end a nearly two-year strike, focusing on improved safety and working conditions, following a record-breaking 2025 that saw nearly 25 million passengers.
Metrotenerife has started the year on a strong note, reaching a preliminary deal to end a strike that has lasted almost two years. This agreement will bring much-needed stability to a service that saw record numbers in 2025, carrying nearly 25 million passengers. This was the highest number since the tram first opened, highlighting its key role in city transport and the public's trust in the service.
The new agreement focuses on improving safety and working conditions for staff. A major part of the negotiations involved removing silica sand, a process that was gradually introduced during the dispute to create a healthier workplace. Since June 2025, all 26 trams have been using calcium silicate instead, a material approved by the manufacturer, Alstom. Additionally, all facilities, depots, and track areas have undergone a deep clean. This cleaning was checked by a specialist company, Inspección y Seguridad de Riesgos (ISR), which confirmed that all areas were properly decontaminated.
Regarding working conditions, there's a plan to modernize the administration for the 21st century. Other issues and demands will be discussed soon when the company and union representatives begin talks for a new collective bargaining agreement.
Workers still need to approve this preliminary agreement in a meeting scheduled for next Wednesday, January 28.
On top of the strike ending, the tram also had a very successful year in 2025. It carried 24,953,848 passengers between January and December, making it the busiest year in the tram's history since it opened in 2007. This shows a continued increase in passenger numbers compared to 2024. In fact, since public transport became free in 2023, the tram service has seen a total growth of 61.02%. Over its 18 years of service, the Tenerife Tram has now carried a total of 280,914,903 passengers.
This preliminary agreement brings stability, allowing the company to confidently address the transport challenges of 2026, especially with passenger demand continuing to grow.