I am traveling to Italy in May and am relying on trains for transportation. How often do they strike? Are strikes normally posted beforehand? On a website?
Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
2724 posts
Check this site HERE for links to train strike information. Some of it is in Italian, but you can get the gist (or do a quick Google translation). They often do announce strikes (like they did in the Milan metro), but sometimes it's the note posted in the ferry station informing you (as happened to me on Lake Como) or you just find out when you arrive (as happened to me at the Monterosso train station). Yes, three strikes in one 20 day trip. But they weren't that bad, not that inconvenient, and you just have to go with it.
Posted by
Napa, CA
3580 posts
The possibility of train strike delays provides a reason for not reserving hotels ahead. I was grounded by a train strike mid-way from Nice to the CT last spring. I just went into the town there and found a hotel for the night. I was grateful that I had not made a reservation for that night as I would have been out the cost of a night's lodging. Often Italian train strikes are a 9am-5pm phenomenon, so you can just wait til evening to catch the next available train. Strikes are normally announced in advance, by at least a day. If you are in Italy you can ask at your hotel or at the train station. If you are in another country or not checking every day, you may be the one on the train when the strike starts as I was. A website that is reputed to report on trains that are guaranteed to run during a strike is www.tinyurl.com/2jfboq.