Those who have visited know that the train system is one of the best and most reliable forms of transportation in Italy. It’s quick, convenient, and cost-effective, but can you still rely on the train system when there’s an unexpected strike during your trip? Whether we like it or not, train strikes in Italy are common, but there’s no need to worry too much.
While strikes can sound scary and cause a disruption in your travel plans, they might not affect your trip as much as you think, especially if you make the necessary arrangements. That said, it’s certainly a daunting phenomenon to deal with without having experienced it before. That’s where this guide comes in.
We’ll detail everything you need to know about these strikes, including what to expect and what to do if you encounter one during your stay in Italy.
READ: This guide will come in handy if you need some extra guidance on how to travel by train in Italy.
How Common Are Train Strikes in Italy?
Strikes happen all over Europe and can affect trains, buses, airplanes – pretty much all local transport methods. Train strikes, specifically, can happen often in Italy, but they are always planned in advance and communicated to the public.
Now, there isn’t a set number of strikes that occur throughout the year, but you can usually expect one or two strikes per month. You might be lucky enough not to encounter a strike at all, but it’s always nice to be prepared for some type of strike action.
You may be wondering about peak travel season – Do strikes happen then? The simple answer is yes. Strikes can happen at any time of year, regardless of the season, but you will almost always know ahead of time.
What to Expect During a Train Strike
Strikes happen for numerous reasons when local workers peacefully protest against working conditions or safety concerns. Most recently, rail workers went on strike to call for greater security due to increased abuse of staff. Whatever the reason may be, the process is the same.
Rail services and train companies may stop operating, preventing you from traveling, which can catch you off guard. It can result in complete trip cancelations or re-routing, but regardless, this isn’t ideal if you’re on a tight schedule and need to move to your next location as soon as possible. That said, there are a few guaranteed trains that you can use that are required to run, even during a strike, so you will always have a way around (but more on that later).
It’s also important to note that under Italian law, railway staff and other transport workers have the right to strike, but they have to do so under specific conditions. For starters, companies are required to announce the strike at least ten days before it begins. That gives you and local travelers more than enough time to find an alternative route.
But what happens if you’re already on a train to your destination when a strike begins? Generally, if it starts after your train departs, you’ll make it to your destination as long as the ride ends within one hour. If not, they may stop at a different train station before your final destination.
It’s important to remember that striking workers aren’t trying to make your life difficult. They’ll take the necessary precautions to minimize the strike’s impact by giving notice and helping you arrange alternative options in advance.
How to Prepare for a Train Strike in Italy
If you’re on a tight schedule, it’s understandable to be concerned about how a strike will affect your trip. Ultimately, the best thing you can do is try to prepare as much as possible and mitigate the effects.
Most of the work is done beforehand by understanding what happens during a strike and checking the relevant schedules, but some things can be figured out once you’re in Italy. Either way, it’s always helpful to stay in the loop, so here are some tips for how to properly prepare for train strikes in Italy.
Check the Strike Schedule
As previously mentioned, transport strikes in Italy are often planned well in advance, announced, and detailed in a set schedule. So, the first thing you need to do is check to see if they’re affecting your area during the days you’re in Italy.
Stay updated by visiting the planned strike schedule on Italy’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport website. It has a detailed breakdown of upcoming strikes at least a few months in advance and is updated often. The schedule states whether or not the strikes will impact regional trains or national ones and which trade unions are involved. It also shows approximately how long the strike will be and the time of day – and luckily, they typically only last a few hours.
Now, which sectors should you watch for that will affect trains? Keep an eye on the Trasporto Pubblico Locale (local public transportation), Plurisettoriale (multisectoral), and, of course, the Ferroviario (railway) sectors.
Also, check the strike schedule months beforehand and occasionally leading up to your trip, as the dates and times may change. This allows you to plan which services or alternatives you can pursue for your travel.
Learn From Locals and Public Notices
Another way to prepare is to ask around. After all, who better to learn from than the locals who deal with striking action month in and month out? Whether it be staff at your hotel or workers at the train station you plan on using, they may be able to give you some advice on what to do during a train strike.
Though, you likely won’t need to go that far. Train company websites will tell you everything you need to know by sending email notices and announcements to forewarn about any planned action that might affect you. These are usually weeks or months in advance, too, so you can plan accordingly.
You can also check around train stations and look for postage or signage about the strikes. Just in case you’re wondering, the Italian word for strike is sciopero, so look for that on any notices.
What Are Some Essential Services for Train Travel?
Navigating public transportation in a new country can be challenging, but there are some apps and services that make the experience much more manageable. These allow you to keep up-to-date with schedule changes and determine if your train will be impacted. Here are just a few recommendations:
- Trenitalia – Trenitalia is a company operated by the Italian government that manages a large number of trains across the country, from high-speed Frecciabianca to InterCity trains. It’s not the best place to buy tickets since there might be translation problems on the site and trouble with international card payments. However, the website has some helpful information regarding train strikes and regular updates to keep track of.
- ViaggiaTreno – This is a separate service created by Trenitalia that lets you look at the status of all trains. ViaggiaTreno is a very useful tool that lets you search for your departure station and train number and check its status, which comes in handy in a pinch.
- Omio – Since Trenitalia can become quite complicated to navigate, we recommend using Omio to book your train tickets. Omio works with Trenitalia and other train operators and lets you compare ticket prices to find the best options. You can check the website for train strike information, and they can help you through the process if you need to cancel or buy a new ticket.
- Trainline – Much like Omio, Trainline is one of the best travel apps that helps you book your train ticket easily and compare fare prices. This service also works with major train operators, including Trenitalia and Italo, and can help you through strikes that may affect your trip.
What to Do If Your Train Is Affected?
If you’ve arrived in Italy and found yourself affected by train strikes, you needn’t worry. Because of how Italian strikes are set up, there will always be a way to work around it so it doesn’t affect your trip too much.
Wherever you are, whether you’ve booked a single ticket or multiple connecting trains through the same train operator, you’ll typically get a notification informing you of an incoming strike. If so, they usually help you through your options by giving a full refund or alternative routes.
Let’s dive into some of your options when this happens.
Minimum Guaranteed Services
As often as train strikes in Italy occur, there are several train lines that run constantly, even on a scheduled strike day. These are set up by the company Trenitalia, which has agreed to provide all travelers with guaranteed minimum transport services. After all, a complete shutdown of all transport services can cause major hassles for the economy, so a few trains operate to keep things running smoothly.
These services run during peak hours, from 06:00 to 09:00 and 18:00 to 21:00, Monday through Saturday. If your train is canceled due to a strike or is projected to do so, the company you’re working with will usually help you find an alternative train among these guaranteed ones, whether that be a regional or a long-distance train.
The only drawback, though, is that these tickets book up very quickly, so your best option is to book with one of these guaranteed trains from the get-go.
Rebook or Get a Refund
The two most obvious outcomes for a canceled train are getting a refund or rebooking your ticket. Usually, in the latter case, your service provider will help you move your booking to the next available train, so it’s essential to contact them as soon as you can.
If rebooking isn’t possible, you can also request a refund. Refunds are usually guaranteed, no matter which operator you used to book tickets, though processing times will vary. Once you complete the relevant online forms, it can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, but you will eventually get the money back.
Adjust Your Schedule or Wait It Out
You may have to keep in mind that some disruptions are simply unavoidable, so setting aside enough time to compensate for train delays is a must. If you’re working with a 10-day itinerary during a period when strikes are frequent, adjust your time if you can. That may mean spending an extra day in a particular city, or if you’re worried about the return home, consider leaving a day earlier.
In most cases, however, you might not even need to worry about this. The bright side about Italian strikes is that they can be quite short, so your plans won’t be delayed by more than a few hours. If you notice the strike affecting you will only be an hour or two, you might as well wait a bit.
Find Alternative Travel Options
If all else fails, and you can’t sacrifice the extra few hours waiting for a new train, you may have to settle for a different form of travel. That could mean using buses, domestic flights, ride-sharing services, or car rentals. Luckily, Italy’s public transport services are reliable, and there are a ton of excellent options out there for you to use.
AVOID: Other potential issues by making sure you’re aware of the Documents you need for you trip to Italy.
Final Thoughts on Italian Train Strikes
There you have it, everyone – everything you need to know about train strikes in Italy so your trip doesn’t go off the rails!
Whether traveling from the Eternal City of Rome to Florence or navigating your way to the stunning shores of the Amalfi Coast, trains are always a reliable way to get around. While train strikes can be inconvenient and shortly disrupt your journey, you shouldn’t be too worried. As long as you remember a few tips and tricks mentioned here, you’ll be golden.
First and foremost, make a plan in advance. Look at projected strike schedules and see if they’re going on during your trip. Then, use essential services like Trenitalia or Omio to stay in the loop with regular updates and figure out how to adjust your journey around them.
Now, with that out of the way, you’re ready to start packing for your next adventure and plan a trip to Italy that you’ve been dreaming of.
Our team of writers and creatives at Untold Italy are experts in keeping you informed and inspired about travel in Italy. Our team collaboration involves writers, photographers and editorial staff dedicated to sharing accurate Italy travel information.
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