Train services across Italy face significant disruption on Thursday, 11 June, as multiple trade unions carry out a 23-hour national rail strike affecting Trenitalia, Italo and Trenord.
The main strike action runs from 3:00am on Thursday 11 June until 2:00am on Friday 12 June. A second, overlapping eight-hour strike involving railway contractor and related services staff runs from 9:00am to 5:00pm on the same day.
The action has been called by six unions including Filt-Cgil, Fit-Cisl, Uiltrasporti, Ugl Ferrovieri, Fast Confsal and Orsa Trasporti. The dispute centres on a Ministry of Transport tender for the management of Intercity train services, which unions say was divided into three separate lots rather than a single contract and lacks adequate social clauses to protect workers. Unions have also raised concerns over the planned entry of French operator SNCF into the Italian high-speed rail sector, warning that without a binding reference contract there is a risk of wage dumping.
Around 3,000 railway workers are reported to be at risk of losing their jobs as a result of the Intercity tender structure, according to reporting by Il Sole 24 Ore.
Guaranteed service windows are in place for regional trains, which will run normally between 6:00am and 9:00am and between 6:00pm and 9:00pm. Regional trains already in service will be permitted to complete their journey if their arrival falls within one hour of the end of a guaranteed window.
Long-distance services face a different situation. Frecce high-speed trains, Intercity services and Italo trains are not subject to the same guaranteed time slot protections that apply to regional transport. Passengers on long-distance routes should check their specific service directly with their operator before travelling.
Trenord, which operates regional, suburban, airport and long-distance services in Lombardy, has confirmed its services may also be disrupted from 3:00am on 11 June until 2:00am on 12 June. Guaranteed service hours apply between 6:00 and 9:00 and between 18:00 and 21:00. If airport rail services are cancelled, replacement buses will operate without intermediate stops on affected routes.
A separate eight-hour freight strike involving Mercitalia Shunting and Terminal staff is scheduled from 6:00am to 2:00pm on 11 June. The action targets rail freight shunting and terminal operations and is not expected to directly affect passenger services, though knock-on delays are possible at some locations.
A further regional rail strike affecting all provinces of Sicily is also scheduled for 11 June, running from 10:01am to 6:00pm and involving FS Security staff.
Passengers who do not wish to travel during the strike period can request a refund on their ticket. For long-distance Frecce and Intercity services, refund requests can be made up until the scheduled departure time of the train. For regional services, requests must be submitted by midnight on the day before the strike. Alternatively, passengers may rebook on the first available train after the strike ends, subject to seat availability, without forfeiting the value of their original ticket.
Travellers are advised to check the status of their service in advance through the official websites and apps of Trenitalia, Italo and Trenord, and to monitor updates from the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.
The 11 June strike is part of a broader period of transport disruption in Italy. A separate national air transport strike affecting EasyJet pilots and cabin crew is scheduled for 13 June, and a nationwide maritime sector strike took place on 10 June.
