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Italy train strike planned for May 6 - Help!

Posted by (Massachusetts, USA) on

Hello everyone,
We are leaving for Italy today, and I just read about the planned train strike for May 6. On May 6 we have train tickets to go from Milan to Parma on Frecciarosso Train #8809. When I checked Trenitalia's website, I notice that the following message is next to our train and a few others, but not all the trains. "Train Solution Temporarily Not Available for the Selected Date." Why is this message next to a few trains, but not all of them?

Is it possible the strike could be cancelled before May 6? Does that ever happen? Does Trenitalia provide bus service instead? I have the Trenitalia app on my phone, and right now everything looks ok. There aren't any messages about the strike.

Should I try to find a private driver to drive us to Parma? I have the name of a company we are using later on during our trip. But I hate to commit the money if the strike doesn't happen.

I would appreciate any ideas, suggestions, information. Our ride is picking us up in 2 hours to drive to the airport.
Thanks,
Karen

Posted by
1316 posts

Strikes may be cancelled but I wouldn't count on it. Trenitalia does not provide substitute bus service, you're on your own. However during strikes they often take steps to reduce the impact on Italians who are relying on transit to go to/from school or work.

If you use Google to translate from Italian the page https://www.trenitalia.com/it/informazioni/treni-garantiti-incasodisciopero.html says

In regional transport, essential services have been established during the busiest time slots (from 06.00 to 09.00 and from 18.00 to 21.00 on weekdays; from 07.00 to 10.00 and from 18.00 to 21.00 on holidays).

The list for you is at https://www.trenitalia.com/content/dam/trenitalia/regionale/treni-garantiti/Regionale%20Emilia%20Romagna_sito.pdf

It shows a train from Milano to Parma at 7:20am; I'd buy tickets and take that train after checking out with someone who speaks Italian what the note on that line means.

Posted by
185 posts

Oh, no! That is frustrating. It looks like there is a regular bus service that takes longer than the train, but it is an option. Good luck!

Posted by
1963 posts

I’ve been checking and there is an intercity train on May 6 from Milan to Parma. And we can reserve seats. It makes stops along the way so it takes longer than our original train. And it appears to be running on Tuesday. I will ask our hotel for advice too.

Posted by
622 posts

The Malapensa express run by Trenord provides bus service during train strikes that affect that line but otherwise Trenitalia does not, to my knowledge. There are a few trains per day, unually during commuter rush hours that are guaranteed to run on strike days. They are listed somewhere on the Trenitalia web site. The Trenitalia website also sometimes has updated strke information but not on the app.

Posted by
1 posts

pls don't assume that just because you can book a ticket online that the train will run as scheduled .... best resource is the list of trains running above ....

Posted by
1963 posts

The train strike today was from 9am to 5pm. We had tickets for an 11:50am train from Milan to Parma. So I made reservations last night for the 7:50am train to Parma. The downside is we had to wake up at 5:30am. The upside is we had a whole day and night in Parma instead of half a day and night.

We love Parma! Beautiful and peaceful. No crowds!

Posted by
1963 posts

Hi sunny22,
We are going to Manarola in the CT today for 3 nights. I hired a private driver who will bring us right to our hotel. A splurge for us but well worth it. Then to Lucca after that for 3 nights. This is part of a 5 week trip.
Thanks for asking!
Karen

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