Trenitalia. Photo: Shutterstock The peak of the tourist season, a severe heat wave and Italy's central transportation system are on the verge of paralysis. Starting tonight (Thursday, July 23, 2026) at 9:00 PM, a 24-hour nationwide train strike will begin, affecting millions of residents and hundreds of thousands of tourists across the country, with train cancellations, delays and widespread disruptions.
The strike, announced by several independent workers' organizations, including CUB Trasporti and SGB, will last until tomorrow (Friday, July 24) at 8:59 PM.
The sanctions come at a particularly sensitive time, in the midst of a severe heat wave hitting the country and during one of the busiest weeks of the tourist season, when train stations and major destinations in Italy are packed with locals and visitors from all over the world.
The strike is expected to affect all of the country's major railway operations, including Trenitalia, Italo and Trenord. Among other things, disruptions are expected on regional lines, intercity lines, night trains and some of the high-speed train lines connecting major cities.
Although the strike officially takes effect at 9:00 PM, train companies have already announced that passengers will feel its effects earlier. Trains scheduled to depart in the evening and night are being canceled in advance to prevent passengers from being stranded halfway through the journey when the restrictions begin.
The workers are demanding that the collective agreements be renewed, that their employment conditions be improved, and that they increase the workforce, which they claim is lacking in the system and also harms the level of safety.
In accordance with Italian law governing strikes in essential services, minimal service will continue during the strike. On Friday, there will be two protected time windows during which some regional train services will operate: between 06:00 and 09:00 and between 18:00 and 21:00. In addition, a number of long-distance high-speed trains have been designated as strike-free and are expected to operate as scheduled.
Italian authorities are advising the public, especially tourists, not to rely on trains to major airports, including Fiumicino in Rome and Malpensa in Milan, in the coming 24 hours. Passengers are being asked to check the official websites and apps of the train companies for real-time updates, and to consider using alternative means of transportation, such as dedicated buses, shuttles or taxis.
The railway companies warn that even after the official end of the strike, there may be additional delays and disruptions until a full return to routine operations.