The full details of how Abruzzo will be affected in the latest round of public transport and air strikes
Planning to travel in Abruzzo this September? Brace yourself: after a quiet, protected August, the strikes are back, and there are a lot of them. Trains, planes and local buses could all see disruption at various points this month.
Why September is Different
August’s “franchigia estiva,” the summer freeze, protected trains, flights and local buses from strikes. That freeze is over. September is traditionally one of the busiest strike months of the year, as unions time their action to the return to school and work. This year is no exception, with more than twenty separate transport protests called across the country.
Not every strike listed below will affect you directly. Many are local actions in other regions, or hit freight rather than passenger services. Below is what’s actually relevant if you’re travelling in or through Abruzzo.
7 to 8 September: National Rail Strike
The big one. From 21:18 on Monday 7 September to 21:17 on Tuesday 8 September, driving and onboard staff across Trenitalia and the FS Group take part in a 24-hour national strike, called by the PDM/PDB national assembly. Several other unions, including CUB Trasporti, SGB and CAT, are striking on the same dates and times.
This will affect the Pescara to Rome line and the Sulmona, L’Aquila, Terni line. If you’re travelling by train anywhere in or out of Abruzzo on these two days, expect cancellations and delays, and check your journey before you leave.
10 to 11 September: Freight and RFI Maintenance (Verona)
A Captrain Italia freight strike runs from the afternoon of the 10th to the afternoon of the 11th. Alongside it, RFI maintenance, administrative and engineering staff strike for 24 hours in the Verona area, from 21:00 on the 10th to 20:59 on the 11th.
Both are freight and infrastructure actions rather than passenger strikes, so Abruzzo train services shouldn’t be cancelled outright. But disruption on the RFI side can cause knock-on delays elsewhere on the network.
21 September: Rail Strikes in Emilia-Romagna
Eight-hour strikes affecting RFI and Trenitalia staff are reported for Emilia-Romagna. This is a regional action and unlikely to touch Abruzzo directly, but it’s worth knowing about if your journey connects through the north.
26 September: National General Strike
A national, multi-sector strike, called by CSLE, covering both public and private workers. It isn’t a transport-only strike, but local public transport is included, with the ministry’s calendar currently showing an 8:00 to 21:00 window.
TUA has joined general strikes of this kind before, including the one on 29 May. At the time of writing, TUA’s own participation for 26 September hasn’t been confirmed, so this is one to watch as the date gets closer.
30 September: Air Traffic Control Strike
The worst day of the month for flying. ENAV and Techno Sky staff strike nationally from 13:00 to 17:00, both called by Uiltrasporti. This window falls outside the protected Enac bands (07:00 to 10:00 and 18:00 to 21:00), so the usual guarantees don’t apply. If you’re flying to or from Abruzzo Airport in Pescara that afternoon, check your flight status in advance.
TUA: What We Know So Far
No Abruzzo-specific TUA strike has been announced for September at the time of writing. Local transport strikes elsewhere in Italy this month include Genoa (4 September), Vicenza (7 September), Trento and Foggia (10 September), and Bergamo (14 September), with a wider “black day” for local transport on 15 September hitting Naples, Florence, Prato, Ravenna, Venice and Pisa. None of these currently include Abruzzo.
That said, TUA sometimes gives only a week’s notice for its own strikes, so this section may need updating before the month is out.
What This Means for You
- The 7 to 8 September national rail strike is the one most likely to disrupt your journey directly.
- The 10 to 11 September and 21 September rail actions are freight or regional, with limited direct impact on Abruzzo passengers.
- 26 September is a general strike that may or may not include TUA; check closer to the date.
- 30 September is the riskiest day for flying, with the strike falling outside protected hours.
- No local TUA strike is currently scheduled, but check again in the days before you travel.
Advice for Travellers
- Check your train or flight app before you leave, especially around 7 to 8 September and 30 September.
- If you usually travel by TUA bus, check tuabruzzo.it in the days before your journey, as notice can be short.
- Strike dates can be revoked, postponed or rescheduled at short notice. Treat this as a guide, not a guarantee.
- TUA buses always run from 05:30 to 08:30 and 13:00 to 16:00 during a strike, even where a strike is confirmed.
Author: Sam Dunham
Sam is a freelance SEO content creator and IGCSE Geography and English teacher in Rome. She also runs the Life In Abruzzo Cultural Association, sharing stories and insights about this captivating region. Alongside raising a teenager, Sam hosts guests at her family’s traditional home, the Little House of the Firefly in Abruzzo, offering a warm welcome and insider tips on local culture, food, and hidden gems.
