A nationwide railway workers’ strike in Italy will begin on September 7, 2026, at 9:18 p.m. and continue until September 8, 2026, at 9:00 p.m. for most carriers, with Italo ending its strike one minute later at 9:17 p.m. The strike involves Trenitalia, Italo, Trenord, Trenitalia Tper, and affects the entire Italian rail network, including regional, intercity, and Alta Velocità Frecce high-speed trains.
Guaranteed Service Hours and Refund Policies
During weekdays, regional train services are guaranteed between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., and again from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. These safety-mandated intervals apply primarily to commuter routes serving cities such as Milan, Rome, Turin, Naples,
and Bologna. However, long-distance and high-speed services lack uniform guaranteed schedules; each operator publishes specific lists of trains that will run during the strike. Passengers with canceled trains are entitled to full refunds and may rebook without fees up to four hours before the scheduled departure, subject to seat availability. Refund requests for Trenitalia, Italo, and Trenord services can be submitted online by entering the ticket code. Delays, unlike confirmed cancellations, do not automatically qualify for refunds.
Strike Causes and Additional Regional Disruptions
The strike is backed by multiple unions including CUB Trasporti, SGB, ORSA Ferrovie, and the Assemblea nazionale del Personale di Macchina e di
Bordo. Workers demand improvements in wages, safer shift scheduling, better working conditions, and enhanced safety standards. Beyond the national rail strike, regional disruptions will begin on September 7 afternoon in Piedmont and Trentino-South Tyrol, where local rail protests coincide with a suspension of city public transportation in South Tyrol.
Traveler Guidance for September 7-8 Disruptions
Passengers should anticipate cancellations, delays, and possible rerouting on all affected rail services during the strike period. Checking the status of specific trains through carrier websites or apps is essential, especially for long-distance and high-speed routes. Refund and rebooking options are available online for major carriers. Some bus and regional train
services may experience interruptions starting the afternoon of September 7 before the national strike’s official start at 9:18 p.m.
Broader Transportation Strikes in Italy During September 2026
The September 7-8 rail strike is part of a series of planned labor actions across Italy’s transportation sectors. Public transport workers will strike on September 15, aviation staff on September 13 and 30, and a general strike is scheduled for September 26. Travelers in Italy during September should consider possible disruptions across rail, public transit, and air travel. Travel insurance is recommended to cover potential unexpected expenses arising from these service interruptions.
