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STRIKES

How is Italy’s nationwide public transport strike affecting travel on Monday?

Public transport passengers face delays or cancellations on Monday, September 18th, as some services around Italy are set to be affected by a 24-hour strike.

Published: 15 September 2023 10:39 CEST
Updated: 18 September 2023 12:00 CEST
Strike, Rome
A woman waits at an empty bus stop in central Rome's Piazza Venezia during a 24-hour national public transport strike. Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE / AFP

The strike was called in late August by five of Italy’s main transport workers’ unions to demand a “300-euro pay rise” amid the cost of living crisis and improved health and safety measures in the workplace.

Monday’s walkout is set to affect all types of local public transport, from surface services (bus, trams, ferries, etc.) to metro lines. 

As is generally the case with strikes in Italy however, the level of disruption will vary by region and city. 

According to the latest national media reports, commuters in Milan, Rome, Venice and Bologna are all likely to experience some disruption on Monday, though the strike may also have an impact elsewhere.

READ ALSO: The transport strikes to expect in Italy in September 2023

In Rome, the services of Atac, Roma TPL and Cotral – the three main transport operators in the city – are all expected to be impacted by the strike, according to the official Roma Mobilita’ information desk.

In Bologna, buses operated by local company Tper “are not guaranteed” to run between 4.30 and 7.30pm, and the Marconi Express (which connects the city centre with Marconi airport) may see delays or cancellations during the day.

In Milan, services run by the city’s main transport operator ATM were reportedly running as normal on Friday morning, but could be disrupted at any time before 3pm and after 6pm.

In Venice, the city’s transport operator warned that the walkout may disrupt water bus lines to and from the main island as well as tram and bus services on the mainland.

It’s worth stressing that strikes in Italy don’t always mean a complete stop to all public transport services.

By law, transport companies in Italy are required to provide ‘minimum services’ (servizi essenziali or minimi in Italian) at certain times of the day, which are known as ‘protected time windows’ (or fasce protette) and usually coincide with peak commute hours. 

READ ALSO: Should you travel in Italy when there’s a strike on?

The exact start and end times of these fasce will once again vary from city to city. Here’s an overview of the scheduled ‘protected’ time windows in some of the major Italian cities on Monday:

  • Milan: from start of service to 8.45am; from 3pm to 6pm
  • Rome: from start of service to 8.30am; from 5pm to 8pm
  • Turin: from 6am to 9am; from 12.00pm to 3pm
  • Bologna: from start of service to 8.30am; from 4.30pm to 7.30pm
  • Venice (road transport services only): from 6am to 8.59am; 4.30pm to 7.29pm
  • Florence: from 4.15am to 8.14am; from 12.30pm to 2.49pm

If you’re planning to travel on September 18th, you’re strongly advised to check out the planned minimum services and guaranteed hours of the public transport companies in your own city. These can usually be found in the news section of their websites. 

Passengers can also check the live status of local services on the transport company’s website or social media accounts on the day of the strike.

Rail and air travel

As the strike involves local public transport operators, it’s unlikely to affect long-distance or regional rail services.

Air travel won’t be directly impacted by the walkout, though airport transfer lines around the country may operate on a reduced schedule.

Taxis

Taxi services around the country are not expected to be affected by the strike on Monday.

You can keep up to date with the latest updates in The Local’s strike news section.

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For members

STRIKES

What to expect from Italy’s national rail strike this weekend

Rail passengers in Italy may face disruption on Saturday, May 4th and Sunday, May 5th as staff at state-owned railway company Ferrovie dello Stato plan a 24-hour strike.

Published: 2 May 2024 10:59 CEST
What to expect from Italy's national rail strike this weekend

Passengers travelling across Italy by train may face delays or cancellations this weekend as staff at state-owned railway operator Ferrovie dello Stato, which includes Trenitalia, Trenord, and Trenitalia Tper, plan to strike from 9pm on Saturday, May 4th to 9pm on Sunday, May 5th.

The walkout was called by CAT (Coordinamento Autorganizzato Trasporti) – one of Italy’s major trade unions – in late March to demand the renewal of collective labour agreements in the rail transport sector.

The planned protest is expected to affect all types of rail travel, from long-distance services to regional and local ones, with the overall level of disruption expected to vary by city and operator.

While rail companies are legally required to guarantee the operation of a number of minimum services (servizi minimi) during strikes taking place on weekdays, there’s no such requirement for weekend walkouts.

READ ALSO: The transport strikes that will hit travel in Italy in May 2024

This means that operators are free to decide whether or not to guarantee services for passengers.

Trenitalia 

National rail operator Trenitalia said in a statement that their services “may experience changes or cancellations” for the entire length of the strike, but the protest may also “result in service variations both before its start and after its end”. 

Though the statement provided no information regarding possible guaranteed services, Trenitalia generally operates a number of essential long-distance journeys during weekend walkouts. These are available here.

Trenitalia has advised passengers planning to travel with them during the weekend to check the status of their services via their website or mobile app, or by calling toll-free number 800 89 20 21.

Trenitalia Tper

Trenitalia Tper, which operates train services in the Emilia-Romagna region, has said that their services “may experience changes or cancellations” due to the walkout. 

In the event of cancellations, passengers will be able to “ask for a refund according to the operator’s terms and conditions”.

Trenitalia Tper hasn’t yet provided any details regarding possible guaranteed services.

See their website for the latest updates.

Trenord

Trenord, which operates a number of regional trains in the Lombardy region, including connections to and from Milan’s Malpensa Airport, has said that scheduled services “may be subject to cancellations”.

However, the operator has also said that none of its staff are represented by trade union CAT and previous walkouts backed by the union didn’t affect scheduled services.

Trenord will not operate minimum services during the strike. However, should airport link services be cancelled, replacement buses will run the same routes. 

See Trenord’s website or app for the latest updates.

Italo

Private long-distance operator Italo will not be affected by the strike.

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 other equivalent services instead or will be entitled to a refund.

Passengers travelling with Trenitalia will need to request a refund either at the station or by using this web form. 

Keep up with the latest updates in The Local’s strike news section.

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