EDIT: I was in error in stating the train strike was from the 19th until the 22nd. As Michael points out below, The only times that passenger service will be affected by this strike is from 9 PM on the 21st until 9 PM on the 22nd. I apologize for posting this erroneous information and for the stress that I may have caused some to experience. I have therefore edited what follows to accurately reflect what will be happening with this train strike... According to the Italian Strike website, Trenitalia passenger service will be on strike from 21:00 21 May to 21:00 22 May, the exact days we'll be in Milan and were hoping to take day trips to Lake Como on one day and Monza on another (Formula 1 fans will understand!) I've checked the Helpline archives, where I've found many posts that say that often these strikes don't happen, but even if they do there are still "essential" trains that run, which I found on Trenitialia's website for Monday-Saturdays. So, (finally) getting to my question... 1. We had planned to go to Como on Sunday the 22, but from what I can tell no "essential" trains run on Sunday, so would I be smart to shift that to Saturday, just in case? 2. We were planning on going to Monza on Friday afternoon, but that appears to be a Suburban train. Would that be affected by the strike? 3. And, am I just worrying about nothing? Thanks for your input!
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Trenitalia has agreements with the trade unions that much of the train system will run during a strike. It's also part of a 1990 law. I can't speak to any non-Trenitalia train system. Here's a link to the Trenitalia website on this suject. http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=4e0f331438dea110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD
Posted by
Northern Virginia
26 posts
Oh, fabulous. We'll be leaving Varenna on 21 May to return to the US on a 14:00 flight. We were just planning on training in to Milan that morning. Thanks for the heads up. We'll keep our eyes open for alternative transportation if needed. Grr.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
2795 posts
OPPS! Will have to watch this. I may just put a car on hold. I was planning to go from Florence on 5/18 which should be fine, but then from Verona to Venice on 5/20 which could be impacted. (I then have to go from Venice to Rome on 5/23 which should be after the strike, but that could impact availbility! Hmm.. maybe I should book that one now if I can figure out the Italian train web site :) )
Posted by
Secaucus, NJ, USA
148 posts
Hmm, I saw here http://www.summerinitaly.com/planning/strike.asp
That the strike was 9pm 21 May until 9pm 22May. I planned on leaving Florence the morning of the 21st, better make a back-up plan...
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
You know how things are different in Italy? Well, the same goes with strikes. The trains still run, just not as often. Once again Ron In Rome is a great resource: http://www.roninrome.com/transportation/strikes-in-italy That page has a link to the trains that do still run. *But see the update below*
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
2795 posts
I figure it will be OK, but I may buy my tickets anyway... the real decision maker will be "will the site take my USAA Credit card :)
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
Hold the phone! I also saw that http://www.summerinitaly.com/planning/strike.asp describes the strike this way: "Trenitalia personnel will be on strike for 24 hours, from 9 PM of May 21st to 9 PM of May 22nd." I looked more closely at the strike info at http://tinyurl.com/MayStrike and it says: Modalità 21.00-21.00 Cargo 19-20/5, viag. Pdm e Pdb 21-22/5 That translates to mean that there will be a cargo rail strike from the 19th to the 20th and a passenger ("viaggiatore") rail strike from 9 pm on Saturday the 21st to 9 pm on Sunday the 22nd. Nowhere near as bad as it first seemed.
Posted by
OP
Dana Point
1223 posts
Thank you, Michael! I guess I should brush up on my Italian before I put everyone else into a panic!
Posted by
OP
Dana Point
1223 posts
OK, now that we're just dealing with a strike from Saturday night to Sunday night, I checked the Trenitalia site that lists the essential trains that will run. What I am still not sure about is this: do these essential trains only run on strikes that occur Monday thru Saturday, which seems to me what the website says, or do they run Sunday as well if that is when the strike is? I really appreciate all of your help in clearing this up!
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
That's a good question and I can't figure it out either. Do you have your Milan lodging lined up? You could ask them. Good luck.
Posted by
Secaucus, NJ, USA
148 posts
Thanks Michael! I was hoping that website was right!
Posted by
OP
Dana Point
1223 posts
Thank you again, Michael. I have emailed our hotel in Milan. If I get any good info from them on this, I will pass it along.
Posted by
OP
Dana Point
1223 posts
Michael.. I did hear back from my hotel, and they stated that the trains that run "a long way are guaranteed" on a Sunday. This seems to jibe with this portion of Law number 146 from the Trenitalia site... "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." So, I'm gonna go with no local service guaranteed, but the longer range trips would be ok. Also, I want to thank you again for clearing up the difference between the cargo and the passenger strike days. That was incredibly helpful.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
You're more than welcome. It was fun trying to figure out the mystery. Plus I had a dog in the fight myself, since we'll be traveling on the 21st from Rome to Orvieto. Have a great time. Lake Como will be beautiful in May.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
120 posts
This doesn't bode well for my Cecina > Cinque Terre on Sunday, May 22. Might have to take a bus. :(
Posted by
Victoria B.C., Canada
58 posts
Will that also affect the Circumvesuviana train Sorrento to Pompeii? When there is a strike does it make the earlier trains super busy since everyone is trying to get to their destination before the trains stop?
Thank you so much for this heads up on the strike. I would have missed it and been in a terrible jam.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
Lin, I don't believe that the CV train is a Trenitalia train, so it might not be affected. You could ask your hotel. They would know. Good luck. (I assume you were planning to travel to Pompeii on Sunday May 22?)
Posted by
Houston, Tx, USA
25 posts
We are to fly out of Rome really early May 19th to Athens. Will I need to worry about local trains to the airport? Thanks, Alanna from Houston
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
The strike is only from Saturday 9 pm 5/21 to Sunday 9 pm 5/22. Eric, if you get this message, perhaps you can edit your original question to reflect the correction? It seems that some people are reading only your question and not the responses.
Posted by
OP
Dana Point
1223 posts
Please see edited OP, which gives the correct times for the strike, invaluable information that Michael provided.