A 24-hour national rail strike by the unions CUB Trasporti and SGB started at 21:00 on Thursday 23 July and ended at 20:59 on Friday 24 July. The walk-out targeted both Trenitalia and private operator Italo in protest against subcontracting practices and safety conditions. Hundreds of regional and long-distance trains were cancelled, forcing travellers onto crowded substitute coaches at the height of the summer exodus. Freight services also suffered knock-on disruptions, with some intermodal departures delayed into the weekend. Although guaranteed rush-hour trains ran in the 06:00-09:00 and 18:00-21:00 windows, many commuters were left without feasible alternatives. Employers with time-critical travel policies granted work-from-home exemptions or switched staff to air and car-rental options. Network conditions have now normalised, but RFI warns that equipment may be out of position and advises passengers to re-check timetables through Sunday. Additional union actions are scheduled in Liguria on 27 July and in Lombardy on 10 September.
Source: Rai News 24
