Upcoming strikes and traffic blocks

It’s prohibited to the driver to speak.

Liberalization may, or may not, be the right medicine for the Italian economy overall, but in addition to the recent taxi strike, other sectors also are striking in protest: trains, local transportation, planes, ferries, trucks, gas stations, pharmacies and lawyers.

Need the scoop in English?...More......

Thursday and Friday, February 26-27, 2012:

TRENORD: the train service in Lombardy principally in and out of the Cadorna station that includes the Malpensa Express light train to and from Malpensa Airport. For further information (probably only in Italian): 800-500-005 (toll-free from inside Italy).

--“RFI” network: strikes from 9 P.M. Thursday to 9 P.M. Friday. Certain principal trains guaranteed only on Friday from 6 A.M. to 9 P.M. and from 4:30 P.M. to 7 P.M.
--“FerrovieNord” network: strikes—INCLUDING THE MALPENSA EXPRESS in and out of the Stazione Centrale—from 9 P.M. Thursday to the end of service on Friday (midnight?!). Certain principal trains guaranteed on Friday from 6 A.M. to 9 A.M. and from 4:30 P.M. to 7 P.M.
--Some lines will be modified, rather than cancelled, on the 26th (in Italian): http://www.cronacamilano.it/wp-content/uploads/cronaca/21235/modifiche-treni-giovedì-26-gennaio-2012.pdf
--Some lines are guaranteed on the 27th (in Italian): http://www.cronacamilano.it/wp-content/uploads/cronaca/21235/treni-garantiti-27-gennaio-2012.pdf


TRENITALIA: the governmental train service covering all of Italy. For further information (probably only in Italian): 02.89.20.21 (if that doesn’t work, try it without the “02”), 199.892.021, 199.30.30.60 (this latter only for disabled passengers). Some, or all, of these numbers may be fee-based.

--Strike from 9 P.M. on Thursday to 9 P.M. on Friday
--Their standard page about essential services in case of a strike (in English!): http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=10caf6923cdea110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD


FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2012

ATM-Milan’s urban transportation system: strikes from 8:45 A.M. to 3 P.M., then again from 6 P.M. to the end of service (midnight?!).

SHIPS, FERRIES AND PLANES: Pilots, stewards, stewardesses and personnel of Alitalia-Cai and Meridiana Fly, as well as in the airports of Roma Fiumicino and Roma Ciampino. More precise information about ships and ferries was not specified.


CURRENT

TRAFFIC BLOCKS TO COMBAT POLLUTION. Beginning January 23, the situation is complicated by local traffic blocks due to high smog levels. For this, see the web pages (usually only in Italian, sigh) of each city involved. How to find the address? They usually follow this formula: http://www.comune.citynameinitalian.it, ex.: http://www.comune.milano.it.

Heading to Milan? Here are the cities in the “Hinterland” (Milan and surrounding small cities) involved: Abbiategrasso, Albairate, Assago, Baranzate, Bareggio, Bollate, Bresso, Carugate, Canegrate, Cassano d’Adda, Cernusco sul Naviglio, Cesano Boscone, Cesate, Cinisello Balsamo, Cologno Monzese, Colturano, Cornaredo, Corsico, Inzago, Lainate, Legnano, Locate di Triulzi, Magenta, Melegnano, Milano, Motta Visconti, Novate Milanese, Peschiera Borromeo, Pioltello, Robecco sul Naviglio, Rozzano, Segrate, Sesto San Giovanni, Settimo Milanese, Vanzaghello, Vimodrone and Vittuone.

TRUCKS transporting goods of all sorts – in progress, they generally park/go painfully slowly on important roads and highways essentially blocking traffic for everyone


NEAR FUTURE

PHARMACIES – February 1st

LAWYERS – February 23-24

GAS STATIONS – on and off, three days at a time, TBA


…in short, it’s a moment to thank the Cosmos that one didn’t give in to the temptation to move out of Milan, or at least to the far flung suburbs, to *try* to save on rent….


If you read Italian, and want to check the sources for yourselves for further info (downloaded Wednesday, January 24, 2012, facts not checked):

http://www.cronacamilano.it/cronaca/21235-sciopero-treni-milano-26-e-27-gennaio-2012-orari-corse-garantite-infoline-per-passeggeri.html,

http://www.cronacamilano.it/cronaca/21243-blocco-traffico-hinterland-milano-dal-23-gennaio-2012-elenco-comuni-aderenti-e-info.html,

http://www.cronacamilano.it/cronaca/21238-sciopero-atm-milano-27-gennaio-2012-orari-e-corse-garantite-linee-urbane-ed-extraurbane.html,

http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2012/gennaio/23/fermano_taxi_poi_Farmacie_Calendario_co_8_120123021.shtml,

http://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/cronaca/articoli/1034974/sciopero-tir-il-governo-basta-blocchi-manifestante-travolto-e-ucciso-da-un-camion.shtml