Italy Railway Strike: Train Cancellations and Delays Expected
Italy is facing a 24-hour railway strike, with big disruptions expected to Trenitalia, Trenord, and Italo train services in the country.
National train strike in Italy
Italy is facing a national railway strike set to last 24 hours, beginning at 21:00 on Thursday 10th April and ending at 20:59 on Friday 11th April, although disruptions are still expected in the immediate hour after.
Among the participants in the national rail strike are staff from the national railway company Trenitalia, as well as Trenord and the private high-speed train operator Italo.
It remains unclear whether all trains during this period will be cancelled or if a skeleton timetable will operate, as the level of disruption is likely to vary by region, city, and train operator depending on how many rail workers choose to take part in the protest.
Details of guaranteed services (servizi garantiti) – which operators are legally required to run – will be published in the lead-up to the national rail strike.
Train passengers are advised to check the status of their itinerary before heading to the station and to make alternative travel plans where possible.
According to local media, passengers planning to travel during the strike hours should be prepared for significant cancellations and delays.
Frecciarossa high-speed trains at Milano Centrale. ©AndyBTravels
Local transport strikes
In addition to the national rail strike, Italy is facing a broader wave of industrial action in April, extending beyond the railway sector.
According to the online news website The Local, public transport authorities in several Italian cities will hold their own strikes in April.
This includes public transport in Brescia (strike from 17:30 to 21:30 on 11th April), Genoa (from 22:30 on 12th April until 02:30 on 13th April), Palermo (24-hour strike on 13th April), and Foggia (from 08:30 to 12:30 on 14th April).
Ferries and Flights
Maritime personnel of the shipping company Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) will hold a 24-hour strike from 20:00 on 13th April until 19:59 on 14th April, which is likely to lead to the cancellation of some ferry services.
If you fly into Italy on 9th April, you may also experience flight delays or cancellations due to a nationwide airport staff strike.
These strikes will take place between 10:00 and 18:00 at airports such as Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, and Palermo.
On the same day, Italy-based employees of easyJet will also strike from 10:30 to 14:30.
Under Italian air transport laws, flights scheduled to depart between 07:00 and 10:00, as well as between 18:00 and 21:00, are protected from strike action and should proceed as scheduled.
However, it’s best to double-check with your airline.
Empty platforms at the train station of Bolzano. ©AndyBTravels
Conclusion
Italy is facing a national railway strike starting in the evening of 11th April and lasting for 24 hours until the late hours of 12th April, affecting Trenitalia, Trenord, and Italo services.
On certain dates in April, Italian airport, airline, and maritime workers, as well as employees of public transport companies in several cities, will also strike.
It’s certainly been a busy few months with European railway strikes, as similar disruptions already took place in Spain and Belgium in the past weeks!
