Italy rail strike Sept 4 to 5: Trenitalia guarantees added

Published on Sep 2, 2025, 9:03 am CDT

6 min read

Italy's national rail strike runs from 900 p.m. Thursday, September 4, to 600 p.m. Friday, September 5, local time. Trenitalia has now posted its protections, joining Italo's guaranteed-train PDF and Trenord's roster for Lombardy. Friday's protected morning band is 600 to 900 a.m., with service expected to resume for departures scheduled after 6:00 p.m. Airport links include Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) via Leonardo Express, and Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) via Malpensa Express or nonstop buses. For broader context, see Italy rail strike Sept 4 to 5: 21-hour disruption plan.

Key Points

Why it matters: Guarantees are limited, so unprotected trains face cancellations and long gaps.
Travel impact: Friday protection runs 600 to 900 a.m., then departures after 6:00 p.m. should resume.
What's next: Expect day-before timetable trims and same-day cancellations.
Italo and Trenord lists are live, and Trenitalia has posted protections.
Airport links at FCO and MXP have guarantees or buses; allow extra time.

Snapshot

The strike window covers Gruppo FS companies, Italo, and Trenord from 900 p.m. September 4 to 600 p.m. September 5. Friday features a protected 600 to 900 a.m. commuter band on regional routes, plus selected long-distance services published by each operator. After 6:00 p.m., trains scheduled to depart are planned to run, with residual delays possible as crews and rolling stock reposition. In Rome, Leonardo Express is treated as an essential service during strike actions, although frequencies can thin. In Milan, Trenord's Malpensa Express may be curtailed; if canceled, nonstop buses run between Milano Cadorna and MXP, and between Stabio and MXP for cross-border flows. Use operator lists to confirm train numbers, then build buffers for airport connections.

Background

Italian strike law requires minimum services during commuter peaks on weekdays. Operators meet this through "treni garantiti," typically in the 600 to 900 a.m. and 600 to 900 p.m. bands, plus curated long-distance lists. Because this stoppage ends at 600 p.m. on a Friday, the morning protection applies, then service resumes for departures scheduled after 600 p.m., rather than a separate evening protection. Trenitalia maintains national and regional guaranteed lists and outlines refund options when your booked train is canceled or heavily delayed. Italo publishes ad hoc PDFs of guaranteed high-speed services and provides change or refund paths tied to fare rules and strike disruptions. Trenord posts a Lombardy-specific guaranteed roster, including airport-rail measures for the Malpensa corridor. For our earlier roundup of guaranteed links and airport specifics, see Italy rail strike: guaranteed trains and airport links for Sept 4 to 5.

Latest Developments

Trenitalia confirms protections and refunds

Trenitalia has confirmed the protected 600 to 900 a.m. band on Friday for regional services, with additional long-distance trains designated as guaranteed. The carrier's "treni garantiti" hub aggregates national long-distance tables and regional essentials, and its refund guidance explains how to request a refund or change when your train is canceled due to the strike. For Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO), the Leonardo Express link between Roma Termini and the airport is recognized as an essential service in regional documentation, supporting airport connectivity during industrial actions. Travelers should still expect trims to frequency and crowding in the protected window. Outside the protected band, service can be suspended until the 6:00 p.m. end of the strike, after which departures scheduled to leave are planned to operate, with some residual delays as operations normalize.

Italo's guaranteed-train PDF is live

Italo has published its guaranteed list for both September 4 and 5, covering late afternoon and evening departures on Thursday that finish near the 9:00 p.m. start, plus a robust selection of morning and midday services on Friday. Routes include Milan to Rome, Rome to Naples, Turin to Naples, Venice to Rome, and long-distance flows such as Reggio Calabria to Milan. If your train number is on the list, it is planned to run; if not, assume cancellation or retiming and shift to a guaranteed option where available. Travelers can change or request refunds per Italo's policy when their booked train does not operate. Inventory on guaranteed departures typically tightens quickly, so confirm your specific train number against the PDF and rebook promptly if needed.

Trenord details MXP plan and resumption after 6:00 p.m.

Trenord states that on Friday only trains on its guaranteed list will run in the 600 to 900 a.m. window. After 6:00 p.m., departures scheduled to leave should run as service resumes, with residual delays possible. If Malpensa Express services are canceled, Trenord will operate nonstop buses between Milano Cadorna and Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP). A cross-border contingency links Stabio and MXP without intermediate stops for the S50. Expect crowding on S-lines and key Bergamo, Varese, and Como corridors, and pad transfers at Milano Centrale and Cadorna. Check the Trenord list again on the eve of travel for any last-minute edits. Refunds and delay compensation follow Trenord's published rules, which outline eligibility and how to submit claims online.

Analysis

Operationally, this 21-hour stoppage punches a hole through the middle of a workday, concentrating risk on Friday midday and early afternoon. The 600 to 900 a.m. protection will move a skeleton flow of regional and selected long-distance trains, but seat maps will be tight, and short-haul commuters will face longer lines and skipped stops. The most delicate handoff is the 600 p.m. restart. Because crews, sets, and platforms will not all be in the right places at 600 p.m., travelers should expect a staggered ramp, not an instant return to normal. Build patience into airport transfers, particularly on the Malpensa axis where bus capacity can lag demand.

Airport links are relatively resilient. In Rome, Leonardo Express is designated as an essential service, which typically ensures at least minimal coverage in the protected band, though gaps and crowding are common. In Milan, Trenord's MXP plan reduces the risk of a complete loss of connectivity, but any bus bridge adds exposure to highway traffic and weather. For long-distance travelers on the Milan, Bologna, Florence, Rome, Naples spine, guaranteed lists are the best anchor. If your booked train is not guaranteed, pivot now to an alternative inside the 600 to 900 a.m. window or to a departure scheduled after 6:00 p.m. Keep receipts, screenshots, and timestamps to streamline refunds or compensation claims if your train is annulled or delayed.

Final Thoughts

Treat Friday, September 5 as a split day. Aim for the protected 600 to 900 a.m. window, then target departures scheduled after 6:00 p.m. as service resumes. For Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO), rely on Leonardo Express where available, and for Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), use Malpensa Express or Trenord's nonstop buses if rail is canceled. Confirm your train number against the operator lists, and rebook early if it is not guaranteed. With buffers and backups, you can navigate the Italy rail strike.