Transport strikes in Italy

[samavarcruiser]

Transport strikes in Italy http://www.summerinitaly.com/planning/strike.asp

[-Lew-]

Thanks, now I know it's one thing I don't have to worry about...

 

Lew

[Hlitner]

Lew, We know you are an experienced traveler so we will tell you a take of woe regarding Italian trains. About 5 years ago we were spending a few nights at a hotel a few miles outside San Gimignano and decided that we wanted to go into Florence for dinner on a Saturday night. Parking in downtown Florence is a pain and one also needs avoid the ZTL (restricted zone) so we decided we would simply driver to the nearby Certaldo train station (more like a whistle stop) and take the local train into Florence (about a 20 min ride). We went to the station and bought our tickets in the vending machine (there is no ticket office here) and waited on the platform along with several dozen locals. The train never showed-up and we were all looking at our watches. So, we waited another 30 min for the next train and it also never came. Finally we gave-up and drove back to San Gimignano where we had a wonderful dinner. Three days later we arrived at FCO and dropped our car (on our way home) and stopped over at the Trenitalia Office to ask about those missing trains and getting our ticket money refunded (only about $25). They got the station manager who informed us that there had been an unannouced 12 hour strike on the line between Sienna and Florence (our train). He then produced a 2 page Italian form and told us we had to complete this form to get our refund. He helped us fill out this complex form and then explained that since we were not Italians he could not refund the money but that Trenitalia would mail us a check. Several month later we received a letter from Trenitalia (in Italian) and it essentially said they were not going to refund our money due to the fact that we were not in Italy! As we often say, ITS ITALY! And this is all part of the charm :)

 

Hank

[samavarcruiser]

Thanks, now I know it's one thing I don't have to worry about...

 

Lew

 

You are welcome