Hi, we are flying into Milan Malpensa airport, arriving Sunday morning. We have reservations in Sirmione on Lake Garda for Sunday night. If the planned train strike from 9:00 p.m. Saturday until 9:00 p.m. Sunday takes place, does anyone know how to figure out the bus system to get from Milan to Sirmione? Or any other suggestions? I really did not plan on renting a car or driving in Italy, don't know if I am up for that.
Posted by
OP
Florida
5 posts
Forgot to put dates - flying in Sun, Sept 18. Planned train strike from Sept 17 to 18.
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
You'd better rent a car. Else, you will need a sequence of short, ever-stopping train/tram routes taking several hours.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
By Italian law, all of the trains will not shut down. Here's the language from the main page of the www.trenitalia.com website. Essential services in the event of strike (law no.146 of june 12, 1990)On days when strikes are held Trenitalia guarantees minimum transport services provided as a result of agreements with trade unions and as considered appropriate by the Commission responsible for guaranteeing the implementation of Law 146/1990. For local transport in particular, essential services have been planned for the peak time-bands (from 06:00 to 09:00 and from 18:00 to 21:00 Mon-Sat). Some long-distance trains are also guaranteed on all days including holidays. If trains that are travelling when a strike begins are not cancelled at their departure station, they will normally reach their final destination – provided those stations can be reached within one hour from the strike's beginning. After this one hour, trains may stop and terminate at stations before the train's final destination. In addition to the essential services, Trenitalia can provide additional services, on which information is given by notices at railway stations, the media and on this website. Since unpredictable changes (e.g. change of route for long-distance trains) could also occur during a strike, customers are kindly requested to pay special attention to the notices given at the stations and by the media. Additionally, here's a link to the Italian webpage that shows which essential trains will be running during a strike. Milan is in the Lombardia Region. http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=cd8f71773dfba110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD
Posted by
Boise, ID, USA
2257 posts
One possibility is private transfer: see www.italiabus.it. There are a few public buses daily between Milan and Riva del Garda (takes almost four hours): www.sia-autoservizi.it. Good luck! We once spent ten hours on seven different buses trying to get 100 miles during a train strike!