Help! Worried about the Italian Train Strike on July 5th - any experiences with previous strikes?
 

The Italian train system is going on strike for 4 hours on July 5th. <BR><BR>See article: http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/06/17/eu.air/index.html<BR><BR>I have train tickets to leave Rome for Venice on an Express (non-stop) train just immediately before the strike starts. If my train is delayed, it will fall into the strike zone. I'm planning on switching to an earlier train to avoid that possibility. However, when they strike, do trains that are en route continue or do they stop on the tracks at strike time, or stop at the closest station? Any info will be a great help.<BR>

I can't give you a definite answer, but usually the train leaving before the strike begins has to complete its route. Even during strikes, some trains always run, especially on the "big" routes like Milan to Rome or Naples or Rome to Venice. Are you on a EuroStar? I have not heard of trains stopping on the track, but I do know the buses do.<BR><BR>I was on a bus once when a strike started. The driver told us to get off. The Italians didn't know what to do, so we all just stood around. After a few minutes the driver waved us all back on, and we proceeded along the route. <BR><BR>If I were you, I would take the earlier train. But then again, the strike could be called off. You never know. Welcome to Italy.

Thanks! That's a big help! I will plan on taking the earlier train unless I hear that the strike has been called off.

Judy,<BR>When I was in Italy, there was a 4 hour train strike. The hotel I was staying in said that if a train left before the strike started it would complete it's route. In the one instance where this occurred and I was affected, this was true. I got on the train 10 min before the strike and went right through to my destination.

TTT

Strikes, especially rail strikes happen all of the time here. They may only last a few hours. The purpose is just to disrrupt things enough to get a message accross. In my own experience, usually, trains stop at the end of their routes. <BR> Try to get on the earlier train. <BR> Also, you may be surprised to see that when the trains go on strike, everything associated with the trains is also on strike. So expect to see a lot of trash just lying around in the train station.