Just wanted to warn anyone who may be traveling to/from Italy on Thanksgiving weekend that on Saturday the 26th at 9pm to Sunday the 27th at 9pm there will be a train strike. There are no guaranteed trains. (If this were a weekday certain rush-hour trains are guaranteed, but not on Sundays.. oh joy!) Correction to my original statement: Some of the guaranteed trains run on Sundays, but only the long-distance trains, not the rush-hour trains. (In my case, I would want the rush-hour route, which is why I accidentally said that there were no guaranteed trains.) This disrupts my own travel plans, I fly back from Istanbul that day and will need to wait around 7 extra hours before getting back to Arezzo. Plus I have to pay double for the ICN train instead of the RV I would usually take. Could be worse, I guess.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Devon, yes there are guaranteed trains. By Italian law, and by agreement with the unions, many trains are guaranteed to run. You can go to www.trenitalia.com and see this strike policy right on the main page. Go to the English page and its right on the bottom of the information in the orange section. Unfortunately, the train schedules for strike days are in Italian and you need to know in what Region the train station you want is located. But, the guaranteed train runs are listed on the webiste.
Posted by
OP
Ballwin
833 posts
Thank you for your comment, but unfortunately most of those guaranteed trains do not apply on Sundays. The long guaranteed trains (the ones that run long distances) do still apply, but the rush-hour (0600-0900, 1800-2100) ones do not. Unfortunately, in my case the long-distance trains do not help. But maybe for others they will. http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=cd8f71773dfba110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD This is the link for anyone who is interested.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
Sorry to hear that, but at least they give notice, right? Can you imagine NOT knowing in advance? Good luck. (I don't suppose there are any buses you could take, are there?)
Posted by
OP
Ballwin
833 posts
Thank you Michael. I found a bus from Rome to Florence, but it takes longer, is more expensive and I would still need to take a train to Arezzo. So it will be better just to sit it out and wait for the strike to end. Last time I rode this ICN train from Rome was on the way back from Slovakia, and I was stuck without a reservation sitting on a little fold-out seat in the aisle. I bought the tickets today (early enough to get a reservation) so I'll have a real seat this time! This post wasn't meant to be a "Pity me!" post, just wanted to let others know in case it might affect them as well!
Posted by
Norfolk, USA
255 posts
My son is going to be visiting Rome during this time frame. He will need to be at FCO by 5pm for a 7pm flight on Sunday, 27 Nov. Other than a taxi, any ideas on the best way to get back to the airport from somewhere around city center?
Posted by
OP
Ballwin
833 posts
Judy, Your son should be able to take a metro or public bus to Termini, the main train station in Rome. From there he can go to the street from which many buses leave for the airports. I believe this street is Via Marsala. There are companies such as Terravision and SITI he can take. Their schedules are posted online, it takes an hour to reach Fiumicino from Termini on these buses.