by InTrieste
A nationwide rail strike brought widespread disruption to train services across Friuli Venezia Giulia on Tuesday, leaving passengers stranded and stations unusually quiet.
In Trieste, the regional capital, the central station was nearly deserted by mid-morning, with repeated announcements of canceled trains echoing through the halls. Most regional routes to and from Venice were suspended, along with key long-distance services including the Frecciarossa to Milan and the Intercity to Rome.
The strike, which began in the early hours, halted nearly all regional services until 5 p.m., the scheduled end of the action. Only a handful of long-distance trains operated as planned, including a midday Intercity to Rome. Similar disruptions were reported in other cities across Friuli Venezia Giulia, including Udine and Pordenone.
The protest was organized by a coalition of major railway unions—Filt-Cgil, Fit-Cisl, Uiltrasporti, Ugl Ferrovieri, Fast-Confsal, and Orsa—citing the stalled negotiations over a new national labor contract for railway workers. The previous contract expired in December 2023, and talks have yet to yield an agreement.
Train services operated by Italo, a private rail company, were unaffected, as its employees did not take part in the strike.
With no immediate breakthrough in negotiations, union representatives have not ruled out further action in the coming weeks.
