More than 700 trains cancelled in Spain due to strike

Spanish national rail operator Renfe has cancelled hundreds of trains on one of the busiest travel days of the year due to a strike over staffing levels.

The company said more than 700 scheduled services wouldn't operate on Wednesday when many people are heading off on their summer vacation. 

The Spanish General Workers' Federation also plans walkouts on three other heavy vacation traffic days — August 14 and 31, and September 1.

The walkouts are held in two periods of four hours each. The government stipulated that a minimum number of services must run on each day of the strikes.

The workers' federation argues that a shortage of staff is leading to overwork and lower service quality. It says some 14,000 people work for state-owned Renfe.