Italian trade unions have announced that there will be a 24-hour national stoppage starting at 21.00 on Sunday 10 April. Travellers will experience widespread disruption of the rail service throughout Italy. All the main trade unions will be taking part: Filt-Cgil, Fit-Cisl, Uilt-Uil, Fast Ferrovie, Ugl Af, Orsa, meaning that there will be very few trains running.

The strike is in protest at what unions see as poor security, lack of company strategy for development and disrespect for contractual obligations. It is also a protest at planned lay-offs and outsourcing measures. Employees say that recent actions taken by the railways' management contradict its declared intention to modernise and develop the Italian railway network. For last-minute details or changes tel. the Trenitalia helpline 892021.