Inconvenience and problems in sight for Thursday 8 March due to the general strike called by the Assembly of the Basic Union of Unions (Usb). Public transport will go haywire, probable delays and inconvenience also for air and rail transport.
The strike will affect the main Italian cities: from Milan to Rome, from Turin to Naples. Let's analyze in detail the situations of the individual cities:
Rome - In the capital, Atac and Roma Tpl employees will stop from 8.30 to 17 and from 20 until the end of services. The service of buses, trolleybuses, trams, metro, local railways is not guaranteed for practically the whole day. The circulation of night buses between 7 and 8 March is also at risk. Also stop the suburban and regional buses of Cotral. Regional trains will only run in the guaranteed slots (6-9 and 18-21). In any case, the connection between Roma Termini station and Fiumicino airport is guaranteed: the Leonardo Express service could be replaced, if necessary, by bus.
Milan – The inconvenience will obviously affect ATM vehicles: circulation at risk from 8.45 to 15 and from 18 to the end of service. Both surface vehicles and the four underground lines are involved. Problems ahead also for railway commuters: "Usb, together with Usi and Cobas have called a strike from midnight to 21 pm on 8 March", explained Trenord. Here too, as in Rome, the trains will only respect the guarantee bands. Also stop the taxis from 8 to 22.
Torino - The GTT company, which manages local public transport, has established two guarantee bands for buses and metros: 6-9 and 12-15. Different timetables for the suburban lines: from the start of service at 8 in the morning and from 14:30 to 17.30. Most likely the Appendino junta will communicate the lifting of the traffic block that prevented the circulation of Euro3 and Euro4 diesel vehicles.
Naples – In the Campania capital, the bus service will be available from 5.30 to 8.30 and from 17 to 20. However, the metro and funicular times vary.
Planes and Trains – Thursday's strike will also involve employees of Trenitalia e Italian, who have published a list of guaranteed trains on their respective websites. Here are the useful links to check which routes will be affected by probable delays and inconveniences:
- Trenitalia has published a detailed list of national and regional trains affected by the strike which will start at midnight on March 7 and end at 21 pm on March 8.
- Italo has also mobilized to deal with possible inconveniences, publishing the list of 70 trains guaranteed during the day of the strike.
Some trade unions of the air traffic controllers also joined the strike, calling a strike at a national level from 13 to 17, and one at a local level only in Rome Fiumicino from 10 to 18. The company was forced to cancel more than 50 scheduled flights for Thursday 8 March: here it is list.
Alitalia has however prepared a extraordinary plan to limit the effects of the strike.
