A large-scale 24-hour railway workers’ strike took place in Italy from 9:18 p.m. on September 7, 2026, until 9:00 p.m. on September 8, 2026, affecting Trenitalia, Italo, Trenord, and Trenitalia Tper rail services and covering virtually the entire Italian rail network. The action included Frecce high-speed trains on Alta Velocità routes linking Turin, Milan, Bologna, Florence, Rome, Naples, and Salerno.
Guaranteed Service Hours and Affected Routes
Trenitalia published guaranteed trains that would run during the strike; outside these specified services, cancellations, delays, and rerouting were expected. Regional trains operated during guaranteed service periods on weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00
p.m. in commuter corridors covering Milan, Rome, Turin, Naples, and Bologna. High-speed and Intercity trains were not covered by guaranteed service and faced significant disruptions.
Strike Causes and Union Involvement
The strike was called over unresolved negotiations concerning wages, shift work conditions, workload, and safety standards. Several labor unions supported the strike, including CUB Trasporti, SGB, ORSA Ferrovie, and Assemblea nazionale del Personale di Macchina e di Bordo. These unions demanded improved working conditions and better-organized shifts. The state-owned railway holding Gruppo FS Italiane and its subsidiaries, along with private operator Italo, were involved in the action.
Passenger Rights and Travel Disruptions
Passengers faced widespread cancellations, delays, and rerouting nationwide
during the strike. Trenitalia, Italo, and Trenord allowed full refunds for canceled trains via online forms, with deadlines varying—regional train refunds could be requested by midnight the day before the strike, while Frecce and Intercity refunds were available from strike announcement until scheduled departure. Free rebooking was generally possible up to four hours before train departure. Travelers were advised to check train status on official websites or apps before traveling, as delays did not always entitle refunds.
Regional Disruptions and Additional Strikes Scheduled
Concurrent regional rail strikes and public transport suspensions occurred in Piedmont and Trentino-South Tyrol starting the afternoon of September 7, with public transit
in South Tyrol also suspended. Most carriers ended strike actions at 9:00 p.m. on September 8, while Italo extended restrictions until 9:17 p.m. This rail strike was part of a series of transportation disruptions in Italy throughout September 2026, including aviation strikes on September 13 and 30, public transport strikes on September 15, and a general strike on September 26.
