Strike Action in Italy 8th Sep 24

[Sieni]

Hi - one leg of our Europe tour has a bit of a problem. We're booked on the ÖBB RJ131 06:24 Vienna to Venice direct service, scheduled arrival 14:05. The booking is non refundable/transferrable.

ÖBB have warned me that (via Google translate) "A strike is planned in Italy between September 8th, 2024 3:00 a.m. and September 9th, 2024 2:00 a.m. Passenger train services are expected to experience train cancellations and delays during this period. We will inform you as soon as we have further information. We apologize."

It's hard to ask any specific question about this because I guess none of you will know any more than I do. Indeed ÖBB don't seem to know much. But I wonder if any of you have any general thoughts about this.

At the moment we're holding our nerve and will wait until we get to Vienna the previous weekend before doing anything. I can then talk to the people at the Hauptbahnhof and see what they say. I'm not so much concerned about refunds and so forth, that can all be addressed after the fact.

 

[Porty]

Hi - one leg of our Europe tour has a bit of a problem. We're booked on the ÖBB RJ131 06:24 Vienna to Venice direct service, scheduled arrival 14:05. The booking is non refundable/transferrable.

ÖBB have warned me that (via Google translate) "A strike is planned in Italy between September 8th, 2024 3:00 a.m. and September 9th, 2024 2:00 a.m. Passenger train services are expected to experience train cancellations and delays during this period. We will inform you as soon as we have further information. We apologize."

It's hard to ask any specific question about this because I guess none of you will know any more than I do. Indeed ÖBB don't seem to know much. But I wonder if any of you have any general thoughts about this.

At the moment we're holding our nerve and will wait until we get to Vienna the previous weekend before doing anything. I can then talk to the people at the Hauptbahnhof and see what they say. I'm not so much concerned about refunds and so forth, that can all be addressed after the fact.

Strikes on Italian railways are very common. There will be a strike timetable so some trains will operate. I'd just wait and see and ask when you're in Vienna if you've not received any updates by then.

 

[nwales58]

Possibly the most important URL for travel in Italy: scioperi.mit.gov.it - the ministry of transport's strike database. E.g. 24/09 Venice airport has ground staff strikes.

The date given shows a national strike of drivers and guards at Trenitalia, TTPER and Mercitalia. So worst case is only the strike timetable trains run. I don't know but doubt the Railjets are in the Italian strike minimum timetable.

The Railjet should run at least as far as Villach. My guess, and only a guess, is that a coach may run from there to Venice if TI aren't operating that train. Journey time probably similar as it's motorway all the way. Guess 2: OeBB may let you change the date even on a Sparschiene fare due to the strike.

Edit: found the guaranteed trains on strike days:

Treni garantiti in caso di sciopero - Trenitalia

www.trenitalia.com

(2 lists, Sunday strikes of less than 24 hours have fewer guaranteed trains). Your train is not guaranteed.

 

[rvdborgt]

Guess 2: OeBB may let you change the date even on a Sparschiene fare due to the strike.

That's one of 3 possibilities they have to offer you if the expected delay at the destination is at least one hour.

 

[Sieni]

Thanks everyone for your useful info.

My plan is not to panic and go changing things willy nilly, which was my first instinct.

 

[peteb]

I found the master strike list from post #3. It refers to "Local public transport" and "Local Public transport staff" striking for 24hrs on 05 October 2024. I was hoping to get from Naples to Sorrento that day. Does anyone know if that's now impossible or unlikely (via the local train system)? Any advice gratefully received.

 

[nwales58]

I found the master strike list from post #3. It refers to "Local public transport" and "Local Public transport staff" striking for 24hrs on 05 October 2024. I was hoping to get from Naples to Sorrento that day. Does anyone know if that's now impossible or unlikely (via the local train system)? Any advice gratefully received.

The answer is: does anyone here know the italian union scene well enough to know where ORSA TPL are involved?

Mostly, in the ministry's list category helps but for that one only the union is any help.

I would then search the operator's information. In this case on EAV's page

Home page - EAV srl

Viaggia con eav In Evidenza Comunicazione riservata agli utenti dell’APP GoEav su myCicero registrati prima dell’attacco informatico avvenuto tra il 29 e il 30 marzo ...

www.eavsrl.it

there is an 'avviso sciopero' link which does not mention it so probably not, but worth checking back later.

If arriving at the airport, FWIW I hit a 4 hour strike back in May. The airport-Garibaldi bus was operating but at a fraction of the frequency with a queue of several hundred. Metro was shut completely until about an hour after the strike end.

 

[peteb]

The answer is: does anyone here know the italian union scene well enough to know where ORSA TPL are involved?

Mostly, in the ministry's list category helps but for that one only the union is any help.

I would then search the operator's information. In this case on EAV's page

Home page - EAV srl

Viaggia con eav In Evidenza Comunicazione riservata agli utenti dell’APP GoEav su myCicero registrati prima dell’attacco informatico avvenuto tra il 29 e il 30 marzo ...

www.eavsrl.it

there is an 'avviso sciopero' link which does not mention it so probably not, but worth checking back later.

If arriving at the airport, FWIW I hit a 4 hour strike back in May. The airport-Garibaldi bus was operating but at a fraction of the frequency with a queue of several hundred. Metro was shut completely until about an hour after the strike ended

Thanks for that. My schedule allows for a little flexibility so I may spend Saturday 5th October in a small Italian town with no need of public transport and travel on to Sorrento on the Sunday hopefully after the effects of the strike will have resolved themselves!

 

[D6130]

Thanks everyone for your useful info.

My plan is not to panic and go changing things willy nilly, which was my first instinct.

As far as I'm aware - but I may be wrong - ÖBB services are operated in Italy by FNM-Trenord. If their staff are not involved in the strike you may be OK.