Anticipated Impacts of Italians' Nationwide Rail Strike Scheduled for Tuesday
Italy's Rail Struggle: Strike Announcement and What Travelers Need to Know
Hey there! Get ready for some potential chaos in Italy on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. Staff at Ferrovie dello Stato, the state-owned rail operator, are planning an eight-hour walkout from 9 AM to 5 PM. Here's a heads up for anyone planning a railway journey during that time.
The Lowdown
Six major trade unions, including Filt Cgil, Fit Cisl, and Uiltrasporti, have called for the protest following an unsuccessful round of talks with the transport ministry over renewing collective labor agreements in the rail sector. They stated that "no agreement aligning with trade unions' demands has been found yet" and that the strike is "necessary" to "defend the dignity of work, [workers'] safety, and the future of the Italian railway sector."
The current labor agreements are set to expire in December 2023.
Affected Operators and Services
This strike will likely cause disruptions for Trenitalia, Trenord, and Trenitalia Tper passengers. Here's what you can expect:
Trenitalia
National operator Trenitalia revealed that services "may experience cancellations or changes" due to the strike. They will, however, operate several essential long-distance services throughout the day. You can find more information about those on their official website.
For regional services, essential operations will be guaranteed during specific windows: from 6 AM to 9 AM and from 6 PM to 9 PM. Find detailed information about essential services in each Italian region on Trenitalia's website.
If you've booked an Intercity or Frecce journey for Tuesday, you can cancel your trip and receive a refund up until the scheduled departure time. Those with regional train tickets must submit their refund requests by midnight on Monday, May 5, 2025.
Travelers are strongly advised to check the status of their journey before setting off. This can be done via Trenitalia's Infomobilita section on their website or mobile app, or by calling 800 89 20 21 (toll-free number).
Trenord
Trenord operates various services in the Lombardy region, including connections to and from Milan's Malpensa Airport. The strike could have "repercussions" on regional, suburban, airport, and long-distance journeys. Services scheduled between 6 AM and 9 AM and between 6 PM and 9 PM will not be affected by the walkout, according to Trenord. Trains scheduled to depart by 9:01 AM and arrive at their final destination by 10 AM will also go ahead as normal.
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. For all the latest updates, visit Trenord's website or mobile app, or call their support center at 02 72 49 49 49.
Trenitalia Tper
Trenitalia Tper, which operates a number of regional trains in the northeastern Emilia Romagna region, may also experience schedule changes or cancellations. The operator will guarantee a minimum level of service over the following time slots on Tuesday: from 6 AM to 9 AM and from 6 PM to 9 PM. Find a full list of guaranteed train journeys here.
Italo
Private long-distance operator Italo should not be affected by the protest, according to the latest reports.
The Gist of Italian Rail Strikes
Rail strikes in Italy are known to occur frequently but not always cause major disruptions. The severity of the disruption depends on the participation of workers. Nationwide protests backed by one or more major trade unions are more likely to create significant delays and cancellations, as they represent more workers than smaller regional unions. Even in highly disruptive strikes, national operators like Trenitalia and Italo usually guarantee a number of essential services at peak travel times.
Handling Cancelled Trains
If a pre-booked rail service is cancelled due to strike action, passengers are generally allowed to travel on equivalent services or are entitled to a refund. For more information on refund requests from Trenitalia and Italo, click here.
Stay tuned to our strike news section for the latest updates.
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Further Reading
- The Italian rail sector is facing a strike on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, led by six major trade unions, including Filt Cgil, Fit Cisl, and Uiltrasporti, due to unsuccessful talks with the transport ministry over renewing collective labor agreements.
- This strike could cause disruptions for passengers of Trenitalia, Trenord, and Trenitalia Tper, as essential services during specific windows may be guaranteed, and Intercity or Frecce train cancellations may result in refunds for passengers.
- Trenord, which operates in the Lombardy region and connects Milan's Malpensa Airport, might have "repercussions" on regional, suburban, airport, and long-distance journeys. However, services scheduled between 6 AM and 9 AM and between 6 PM and 9 PM will not be affected by the walkout.
- Trenitalia Tper, operating in the northeastern Emilia Romagna region, may also experience schedule changes or cancellations, but a minimum level of service will be guaranteed over specific time slots.
- Italian citizens planning to apply for citizenship should consider this potential strike and its effects on travel, as it may affect their ability to comply with the required residence and travel obligations.
- Private long-distance operator Italo should not be affected by the protest, according to the latest reports. However, travelers are encouraged to stay informed about all scheduled services and any potential changes or cancellations to avoid any inconvenience.
