21.00 today till 14.00 tomorrow. <BR> <BR>Steve

Steve: <BR> <BR>Do you have a reliable website that provides "strike info" --- I know this is not an uncommon occurence in Italy.

http://www.repubblica.it/online/cron...eni/treni.html <BR> <BR>This is an up-to-date news item - can't find one in English - says the strike will be until 2.30 p.m. Sunday.

Hi there, <BR>end Sunday 14.00 (I stay in the tourist office at the station in Manarola-Cinque Terre and today many people asked about)

hi steve <BR> <BR>you can go directly to www.trenitalia.com there you could choose different languages but only under the italian language is the strike program. click hot-news and go to "programmi di sciopero" there you find all the trains and there schedule. <BR> <BR>christina

Also, Italy Daily section of the International Herald Tribune usually--but not always--lists the planned strikes, with plenty of advanced warning.

I fly into Milan on Thurs and staying in Varenna that night. Planning on taking the train to get there. Then planned to take the train on Sat. a.m. to Venice. We have hotel reservations there for two nights. So, if the trains are on strike, how do I get to Venice? Is the bus a possibility? I worked very hard to get the reservations in Venice and just have to get there. Any suggestions?

Rent a car. Call AutoEurope asap. (wish I had number at hand, but it should come up with a search) Also, try Avis.

But didn't the first poster, Steve, report that the strike was over on 23 Sept.?

Helen and Eu said it would not be over until Sunday? I tried to find the info on www.trenitalia.com, with no luck.

The general rail strike ended on Sunday the 23d, as advertised. Now the cleaning staff is on strike, but that won't keep the trains from running.

Thank you, thank you, SO glad to hear that!! It would not have ruined my trip, we have to roll with the punches, but this make is much easier.

IF YOU ARE RIDING ON THE ITALIAN RAILROADS, ROLLING WITH THE PUNCHES IS PART OF THE FUN.

many Italian train strikes last only six hours and are announced in advance. Supposedly certain trains, in an agreement with unions, are strike exempt and there should be a train at least every four hours during strikes. This policy can obviously change. The schedule books sold in station newsstands carry footnotes indicating which trains are supposed to be strike-free. Last year during a strike this schedule proved invaluable as trains that the schedule indicated were strike-free did in fact run.

I'm planning on traveling by train from Milan to Florence on 10/27, Florence to to Venice on 11/1, and Venice back to Milan on 11/6. Anyone think a rail strike during these dates is either possible or likely? What are the options in the event of a strike?

The best place is to check with the international Herald Tribune http://www.iht.com as they have travel advisories. <BR> <BR>You might run in to other problems on the 1st of November as it is the start of a holiday weekend for Italians so the trains will be very crowded. Be prepared with reservations.