A nationwide rail strike will affect Italy’s rail network from 9:18 p.m. on September 7, 2026, until 9:00 p.m. on September 8, 2026. The walkout involves Trenitalia, the private high-speed operator Italo, regional operator Trenord in Lombardy, and Trenitalia Tper in Emilia-Romagna. The strike includes Frecce high-speed trains operated by Trenitalia and impacts most services under the state-owned Gruppo FS Italiane holding.
Scope of Service Disruptions and Affected Routes
Rail workers across Italy will halt operations during the strike, causing widespread cancellations and delays on regional, intercity and high-speed trains. The strike coverage includes routes between Turin, Milan, Bologna, Florence, Rome, Naples, and Salerno on the Alta
Velocità high-speed network. Regional train services will guarantee operations only during the mandated time windows from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on September 8, a weekday. This guaranteed service period generally applies to commuter trains near major metropolitan areas.
Long-distance and high-speed train service is not uniformly guaranteed during the strike; each carrier publishes a specific list of trains confirmed to run. Trenitalia has made such a list publicly available. Italo’s strike officially ends at 9:17 p.m. on September 8, differing by one minute from other operators.
Labor Unions and Strike Causes
The strike is backed by multiple labor
unions including CUB Trasporti, SGB, ORSA Ferrovie, and Assemblea nazionale del Personale di Macchina e di Bordo. Workers demand improved wages, better working conditions and shift organization, reductions in workload, and enhanced safety measures on the railways.
Passenger Rights, Refunds and Rebooking
Passengers with canceled trains due to the strike may request full refunds. For Frecce and Intercity trains, refund requests are accepted from the moment strike announcements are made until the original departure time. For regional trains, refund claims must be submitted by midnight the day before the strike. Passengers can alternatively rebook onto other trains free of charge, typically up to four hours
before scheduled departure.
Delays do not automatically entitle passengers to refunds; only confirmed cancellations trigger automatic reimbursements. Travelers must verify their train’s status directly with operators before travel.
Regional Protests and Additional Transport Strikes
Concurrent regional strikes will begin on September 7 in Piedmont, Trentino-South Tyrol, and South Tyrol. In these areas, public transportation suspensions and regional rail protests might start as early as Monday afternoon, before the national rail strike initiation at 9:18 p.m. on September 7. Broader transportation strikes involving public transit and aviation are scheduled throughout Italy during September 2026. Notably, public transport strikes are set for September 15, aviation strikes on September
13 and 30, and a general nationwide strike on September 26.
Travel Recommendations During Strike Period
Travelers in Italy during September 2026 should plan for potential disruptions from multiple industrial actions. It is advised to frequently check train statuses provided by Trenitalia, Italo, and Trenord to confirm train availability. Travel insurance is recommended to mitigate financial risks linked to cancellations and delays during this period.
