Train strike in Italy on May 23, 2025: attention for those traveling from Switzerland

Post on: 22.05.2025

Train strike in Italy: If on Friday 23 May 2025 you are planning a train trip from Switzerland to Milan or other Italian destinations, it is crucial to be careful: Italy will be affected by a national strike in the railway sector that could cause delays, widespread cancellations and disruptions along the entire network, including international connections.

A whole day of inconvenience on rail

The strike, called by the unions USB Lavoro Privato and SGB, involves the entire Italian railway sector: Trenitalia, Trenord, Italo NTV, Trenitalia Tper and RFI (Italian Railway Network). This is one of the largest and most potentially impactful strikes of 2025.

• From 01:00 to 23:59 on Friday, May 23, 2025
• Almost 24 hours of stoppage, with potential repercussions even the day before (May 22) and the day after (May 24)

The agitation was originally scheduled for May 17, but was postponed so as not to interfere with events of national importance (including the Imola Grand Prix and the International Tennis Championships in Rome).

Which trains from Switzerland could be affected?

The strike does not directly affect the Swiss railways (SBB/CFF/FFS), but it affects all trains in entry and exit from Italian territory, in particular:

• EuroCity from Zurich, Lugano, Bellinzona and Chiasso to Milano Centrale
• Trains TILO cross-border trains from Biasca, Mendrisio, Stabio to Varese, Gallarate, Malpensa

Trains Malpensa Express to and from the airport

The connections most at risk are those outside the guaranteed time slots ( see below). Trains departing in Switzerland and arriving in Italy during strike hours may also be cancelled or interrupted in Chiasso or Domodossola.

Guaranteed time slots

As required by Italian legislation, some minimum services on weekdays must be guaranteed during a strike:

• 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m
• 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p

However, this does not ensure the regularity of international connections. Some trains may not start or may still be subject to changes.

Who is participating in the strike?

The strike involves a large part of the Italian railway staff:

• Train drivers and conductors
• Traffic workers (RFI)
• Station staff, cleaning and maintenance
• Customer care and ticketing services
• Trenord drivers of replacement buses

At the same time, there will also be an internal company meeting of the Ferrovie dello Stato Group (FS) from 9:00 to 17:00, which could cause further slowdowns, especially in the Milan node.

Where to find updated information

Always consult the official websites of the railway companies, where the lists of guaranteed trains and real-time updates will be published:

Trenitalia

• Website: www.trenitalia.com
• Official App
• Toll-free number: 800 89 20 21

Trenord (Lombardy routes, Malpensa Express)

• Website: www.trenord.it
• App and social channels

Italo

• Site: www.italotreno.it
• Official App

Replacement buses and possible remedies

In case of suppression of key services such as Malpensa Express, replacement buses will be activated (without intermediate stops):

• Milano Cadorna (via Paleocapa 1) – Malpensa
• Stabio – Malpensa

For cancelled trains, travelers will be entitled to:

• Full refund of the ticket
• Rebooking without penalty, if there are seats available in the following days

What to expect in the days before and after

The inconveniences will not be limited to May 23: delays, modifications or cancellations are expected also:

• Thursday 22 May (especially in the evening hours)
• Saturday 24 May (possible residual delays and altered rotations)

For travellers from Switzerland, this means that even normally regular trains may not be confirmed.

Tips for Swiss travellers

1. Check your train at least 2-3 times before departure.
2. Consider bringing forward or postponing your journey to avoid the day of 23.
3. If your train ends in Italy, consider stopping at Chiasso or Domodossola and continuing by alternative means.
4. For those who need to reach Malpensa, leave well in advance and find out about any replacement buses.
5. If necessary, consider the option of long-distance bus (FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus) between Switzerland and Northern Italy.

In summary

• Friday 23 May will be a very complicated day for those traveling by train to or from Italy.
• The expected participation in the strike is large and could cause interruptions also extended to international connections.
• Travelers departing from Switzerland should constantly inform themselves and have plan B ready.

For many, it will be a day to avoid if possible.