October 26, 2026 — Update: fresh details are out for Friday’s 24-hour general strike in Italy. Trains will stop from 9 p.m. on Thursday, October 29, until 8:59 p.m. on Friday, October 30, and Rome’s metro and buses will run only in two short windows on Friday. Milan’s city transport is not taking part.
Who is striking and why
The grassroots union USB has called a national general strike covering public and private sectors on Friday, October 30. Its demands include higher wages, pensions that keep pace with inflation, a halt to rearmament and military spending, and opposition to recent public-order measures.
What will run
| Service | Strike hours | What is guaranteed |
|---|---|---|
| Trains — FS/Trenitalia, Italo, Trenord | 9:00 p.m. Thu Oct. 29 – 8:59 p.m. Fri Oct. 30 | Regional trains 6–9 a.m. and 6–9 p.m. (by published train lists); only listed Frecce and Intercity trains on long routes |
| Thursday evening trains | From 9:00 p.m. Thu | Trains leaving by 9 p.m. and due at their final stop by 10 p.m. will run |
| Rome — ATAC metro and buses, Cotral buses | 24 hours, Fri Oct. 30 | Start of service to 8:29 a.m. and 5:00–7:59 p.m. |
| Milan — ATM | Not striking | Normal; Lombardy disruption limited to Trenord trains |
| Other cities — local buses | Fri Oct. 30 | Usually start of service to 8:30 a.m. and 5–8 p.m. |
| Airport rail links (e.g. Malpensa Express) | With the rail strike | Cancelled trains replaced by non-stop buses |
Trains already running when the strike starts can continue only if they are due at their destination within an hour; otherwise they may stop short. Details for airports, ferries and Naples transport were not included in the reports reviewed (TBA).
Next on the calendar
The CGIL union has called a separate 24-hour national general strike for Friday, November 20, 2026.
What it means for airline travelers
- If you land in Italy on Thursday night or Friday, don’t count on a train out of the airport. Look for the replacement buses at Malpensa, or book a private transfer.
- Check your train number against Trenitalia’s list of guaranteed services before you travel — on long routes, only listed trains will run.
- In Rome, plan any metro or bus trips for before 8:29 a.m. or between 5 p.m. and 7:59 p.m. on Friday; expect taxis to be in demand.
- Trying to get to an airport for a standby flight on Friday? Move your rail journey to Thursday afternoon or to Saturday if you can.
- Ask Trenitalia or Italo about changing or refunding tickets for strike-hit trains.
Sources
- QuiFinanza — “Sciopero 30 ottobre, orari e fasce garantite: quali città si fermano” (Oct. 26, 2026): quifinanza.it
- Affaritaliani — “Sciopero treni 30 ottobre, orari e fasce garantite” (Oct. 26, 2026): affaritaliani.it
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