Rail and public transport services across Italy were expected to be hit by severe disruption on Monday, September 22nd, due to a 24-hour general strike. Here’s what you need to know if you have a journey planned.
The protest was called by four Italian trade unions earlier this week in what they described as a demonstration of support for civilians in Gaza.
Italy’s Unione Sindacale di Base (USB), one of the four trade unions backing the strike, said in a statement on Tuesday that the nationwide protest was a “necessary and urgent” response to the “horrors that are being perpetrated in the Palestinian territories.”
The strike, it added, was meant as an act of “solidarity” with the Palestinian people amid an “exacerbation of the massacre of women, men, and children” following Israel’s latest ground offensive in Gaza City.
Italian media reports said the protest would affect both public and private transport services across the country, including long-distance journeys run by train operators Trenitalia and Italo.
The country’s logistics, maritime and education sectors were also expected to be affected by the walkout.
Trains
In its latest statement, national rail network manager Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) said that the rail sector strike would begin at midnight and end at 11pm on Monday.
High-speed, long-distance and regional services operated by Trenitalia, Trenord and private operator Italo could be affected, RFI said, adding that the strike “may lead to schedule changes even before it starts and after it ends.”
Trenitalia
National rail operator Trenitalia said in a statement that their services, including replacement bus services, may experience “cancellations or changes” due to the strike, warning of potential disruption even before its start or after its end.
Only staff based in the Calabria region would not participate in the walkout, Trenitalia said.
Trenitalia said that it would guarantee several medium and long-distance services during the walkout. A full list can be found here.
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As for regional trains, essential services were guaranteed to operate from 6am to 9am and from 6pm to 9pm, it said.
You can find full details about essential services in each Italian region on Trenitalia’s website (under treni garantiti: ricerca per regioni).
Passengers may request a refund up to departure time of the booked train for journeys on Intercity and Frecce trains, or up to midnight the day before the strike for regional trains.
People planning to travel with Trenitalia on Monday were advised to check the status of their journey before setting off.
You can do so via the Infomobilità section of the operator’s website or mobile app, or by calling their customer support centre at 800892021 (toll-free).
Trenord
Trenord, which runs a number of services in the Lombardy region, including connections to and from Milan’s Malpensa Airport, said the strike could affect the normal operation of regional, suburban, airport and long-distance routes.
The operator said it would guarantee a number of essential services from 6am to 9am and 6pm to 9pm on Monday.
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Trains scheduled to depart by 11.59pm on Sunday and arrive at their final destination by 12.59am on Monday would complete their journeys, it added.
Should airport link services be cancelled due to the strike, replacement buses will run between Milan Cadorna (Via Paleocapa 1) and Malpensa Airport, and between Stabio and Malpensa Airport, according to Trenord.
For all the latest updates, see Trenord’s website or mobile app, or call their support centre at 0272494949.
Trenord’s customer support centre is open from 6am to midnight every day.
Trenitalia Tper
Services run by Trenitalia Tper, which operates several lines in the northeastern Emilia Romagna region, may also experience schedule changes or cancellations due to the walkout.
The operator said it would guarantee a minimum level of service over the following time slots: from 6am to 9am and from 6pm to 9pm.
You can find a full list of guaranteed train journeys here.
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Italo
Private long-distance operator Italo has published a list of services guaranteed to go ahead during the strike.
For further information about Italo services, passengers were advised to contact the operator’s support centre at 892020 (toll number).
READ ALSO: Can I get a refund in Italy if my train is cancelled because of strikes?
What to do if your train is cancelled
If a pre-booked rail service is cancelled due to strike action in Italy, passengers are normally allowed to travel on equivalent services or are entitled to a refund.
For further information on requesting a refund from Trenitalia and Italo, see our separate article.
A woman waits at a bus stop during a public transport strike in Rome. Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE / AFP.
Buses, metro and trams
Local public transport services including metro lines, buses, trams and ferries were also expected to be hit by delays or cancellations on Monday.
Italian media reports warned passengers in major cities including Rome, Milan, Naples and Turin to expect severe disruption (see below), but noted that the strike may also have a significant impact in smaller cities and towns.
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Under national strike laws, public transport companies are required to guarantee the operation of a number of essential services (servizi essenziali) during walkouts.
For details on guaranteed services, passengers were advised to check the relevant transport company’s website or social media accounts.
Milan
People using Milan’s metro, bus or tram services may experience disruption to their journeys between 8.45am and 3pm and from 6pm until the end of service on Monday, the city’s public transport operator ATM said.
The Como-Brunate funicular service could not be guaranteed between 8.30am and 4.30pm and after 7.30pm until the end of service, it added.
Rome
Passengers using public transport in Rome on Monday may face cancellations and delays from 8.30am until 5pm and from 8pm until the end of the service, according to the city’s transport provider Atac.
On the night of Sunday, September 21st, night bus services (lines starting with ‘n’) would not be guaranteed, but daytime lines with scheduled services beyond midnight – namely 38, 44, 61, 86, 170, 246, 301, 451, 664, 881, 916, 980 314, 404, and 444 – would remain in operation, it said.
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On the night of Monday, September 22nd into Tuesday, September 23rd, the reverse would apply: night bus services would be guaranteed, but daytime lines with scheduled services beyond midnight could face cancellations or delays.
Naples
Public transport services in Naples were guaranteed to go ahead between 5.30am and 8.30am and between 4.30pm and 7.30pm on Monday, public transport operator EAV said.
Specific guaranteed departure times for each line can be accessed here.
Turin
Metro, bus and tram lines on Turin’s urban transport network were guaranteed to remain in service from 6am to 9am and 12pm to 3pm on Monday, according to provider GTT.
Its ‘extraurban’ network would remain in operation from the start of service until 8am and from 2.30pm to 5.30pm, it added.
Services scheduled to depart before the start of the strike would complete their journey, it said.
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Air travel
Air travel to, from and across Italy is excluded from the walkout, meaning airline passengers should face no strike-related disruption on Monday.
Schools and universities
Staff at schools and universities, including administrative and support staff, have been invited to participate in the strike, Italy’s education ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
Normal teaching hours and classes at public schools and universities across the country may be subject to changes on Monday.
For details about how the strike may impact individual institutions, it’s advisable to get in touch with the information desk of the relevant school or university.
Keep up with the latest updates in The Local’s strike news section.