National Rail Strike Set to Disrupt Train Traffic in Italy

Italy is bracing for a national rail strike that is expected to cause major train disruptions across the entire country.

Italian railway strike

The nationwide strike is scheduled to take place across all of Italy from 21:00 on Monday, 7th July until 18:00 on Tuesday, 8th July.

According to Italian newspapers such as Corriere della Sera, the strike will affect both regional and long-distance trains.

The national strike will involve not only workers from Italian national railway company Trenitalia, but also those from Trenord, Italo, and other rail transport operators.

A Frecciarossa high-speed train. ©AndyBTravels

Essential services

Under Italian law, rail companies are required to guarantee a minimum level of essential services during weekday strikes, which is why a limited number of trains will operate between 06:00 and 09:00 on Tuesday.

Both Trenitalia and Italo have published lists of long-distance and high-speed train services that are guaranteed to run during the strike.

In case you need to take a regional or commuter train during the strike hours, be aware that generally only those trains scheduled to depart from their station of origin after 06:00 and set to arrive at their final destination before 09:00 are likely to operate.

Trenord

Trenord, which operates regional services in the northern Italian region of Lombardy, will take measures to assist passengers travelling to Milan Malpensa Airport.

If the Malpensa Express train is not running due to the strike, Trenord will provide direct buses between Milan Cadorna and Malpensa Airport, as well as between Stabio (Switzerland) and Malpensa.

Trenord double deck train at Milano Centrale. ©AndyBTravels

Conclusion

There will be a national rail strike in Italy from 21:00 on Monday, 7th July to 18:00 on Tuesday, 8th July, causing widespread cancellations of both regional and long-distance trains.

However, many services during the morning rush hour on Tuesday, 8th July will still operate normally, so be sure to check how the strike may affect your travels and plan accordingly.

It’s shaping up to be a challenging rail travel year in Europe, with train strikes affecting not only Italy but also countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain!