Italy Sept. 22 Transport Strike: City and Rail Timetable

Published on Sep 21, 2025, 4:37 pm CDT

5 min read

Italy's base-union general strike on September 22 will thin local transit and rail service across major cities. Operators have posted guaranteed windows that vary by city, and national rail maintains legally protected bands for commuters. Air traffic control is not part of this action, but airport access and train links can slow your day. Travelers should time moves within protected windows, build buffers for airport transfers to Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO), Milan Linate Airport (LIN), and Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), and review refund policies where applicable.

Key Points

Why it matters: Guaranteed windows differ by city, so timing trips well can save hours.
Travel impact: Rome and Milan run reduced service outside windows, rail trims schedules between bands.
What's next: Expect added labor actions on September 26 in the air sector; plan around ENAC windows.
National rail guarantees operate 600-900 a.m., 600-900 p.m.; some rail stoppages start the evening prior.
Airport trains may thin outside bands, so pad transfers to FCO, LIN, and MXP.

Snapshot

This is a transport strike, not an aviation walkout, so flights should operate. The pain points are city buses, metro lines, and regional or intercity trains outside guaranteed windows. In Rome, ATAC guarantees service from start-of-day to 829 a.m., then 500-759 p.m. In Milan, ATM says service may not be guaranteed from 845 a.m. to 300 p.m., and after 600 p.m. On rail, Trenitalia, Trenord, and Italo list national guarantees 600-900 a.m. and 600-900 p.m., with many rail effects running 900 p.m. September 21 to 900 p.m. September 22. Aim your airport transfers for the protected bands, print your boarding pass, and go carry-on if you can.

Background

Base unions have filed a 24-hour national action that spans public and private sectors, including local public transport and rail. Italian law preserves minimum services, which is why you see city-specific transit windows and nationwide rail bands. Operators have now posted their day-of plans. ATAC covers Rome's buses, trams, metro, and some rail spurs. ATM covers Milan's metro and surface lines. GTT sets Turin's bands, TPER covers Bologna and Ferrara, and Autolinee Toscane sets windows in parts of Tuscany. Rail operators publish protected lists and refund rules. The upshot, if you are traveling, is to schedule movements within the protected windows and expect reduced frequencies and occasional pauses elsewhere.

Latest Developments

Rome and Milan windows, plus airport transfers

Rome, ATAC: guaranteed start of service to 829 a.m., and 500-759 p.m. Not guaranteed 830 a.m.-459 p.m., and 800 p.m. to end of daytime service. Milan, ATM: service may not be guaranteed 845 a.m.-300 p.m., and after 6:00 p.m. to end of service, with Como-Brunate funicular also affected. For FCO, LIN, and MXP transfers, target the morning and early evening windows, and allow extra time if you must travel outside them. See our Saturday primer, Italy solidarity protests watch, September 22, for rally-area routing tips.

National rail guarantees and airport trains

Trenitalia and Trenord will operate guaranteed services 600-900 a.m. and 600-900 p.m., with broader stoppages spanning the late evening of September 21 through the evening of September 22. Italo has published a list of guaranteed trains for September 22. Fiumicino and Malpensa airport links may thin outside protected bands, so either travel inside the guarantees or add a surface-transfer buffer. Refund and rebooking options apply under operator strike policies.

Other city windows to know

Turin, GTT: 600-900 a.m. and 1200-300 p.m. for urban, suburban, and metro. Bologna and Ferrara, TPER: not guaranteed 830 a.m.-430 p.m., and 730 p.m. to end of service. **Naples, ANM and EAV** typically 530-830 a.m. and 500-800 p.m. for surface lines, with line-specific first and last trips published. Tuscany, Autolinee Toscane: in several provinces, 415-814 a.m. and 1230-229 p.m. Always confirm local notices before you go.

Analysis

Operationally, this day hinges on timing. Rome's and Milan's transit windows do not perfectly overlap with rail's 600-900 a.m. and 600-900 p.m. guarantees, so you should plan connections that begin and end inside protected periods. Midday is the riskiest block, when both cities reduce service and rail runs fewer trains, so expect longer headways and busier platforms. If you are catching a flight, anchor your ground transfer in the morning window, arrive earlier than normal, and stay airside. For late-afternoon departures that push you into the 300-600 p.m. gap in Milan, consider taxi or car service, and allow generous dwell time on curbs. If a rail leg is canceled, move quickly to alternatives, including regional express services still operating or intercity coaches, rather than waiting out a thin schedule. Refund rules differ by operator, so check the policy before you line up. Publishing a clear Italy transport strike timetable gives travelers a single reference to de-risk the day.

Final Thoughts

Treat September 22 like a weather day for ground transport. Use the protected bands to your advantage, target airport transfers during guarantees, and keep a printed boarding pass and carry-on handy. With a city-by-city timetable, plus national rail guarantees, you can maintain control of your day, even if midday service thins. If your plans involve late-September flying, see our explainer on the September 26 aviation actions. A concise Italy transport strike timetable is the best tool to cut surprises.