THEThe return to everyday life after the Christmas holidays is always a delicate moment, made up of good intentions and diaries that fill up again. This year, however, getting back into the rhythm will be an exercise in patience, especially for those who have to travel. In fact, the month of January 2026 presents itself as a long obstacle course, where workers’ right to strike and the daily needs of travelers will often conflicttransforming stations, airports and bus stops into large waiting areas.
Transport strikes: the first signs of a complicated return
Epiphany doesn’t have time to take away all the celebrations The first signs of malaise in local transport will begin as early as tomorrow, Thursday 8 January. It will not be a single block, but many small “shocks” scattered across Italy. In Abruzzo, between Pescara and ChietiTua buses (Trasporto Unico Abruzzese) will stop for four hours in the morning. TO Napleshowever, the awakening will be more bitter for those who use the Vesuvian railway lines managed by Eav (Ente Autonomo Volturno): arms crossed for the entire day. Also to Bolzano the afternoon will be uphill for those who rely on Sasa buses (Area Services Bus Company), with a stop that will cover the time of returning from work.
9 and 10 January: weekend of passion for those who fly…
If the first days will be warm-up, the real test will arrive between January 9th and 10th. It will be a black weekend for those who have planned a trip. On Friday the 9th the inconveniences will fly high: in the airports of Milan Linate and Malpensa, the handling staff, i.e. the people responsible for loading baggage, managing check-ins and preparing the plane for departure, will fold their arms. They will join the crews of EasyJet And Vuelingmaking the day a real lottery for those who have to embark.
Once the holidays are over, we start again in slow motion: a complicated January for those who have to travel by public transport due to a busy agenda of protests (Getty)
And for those who take the train
Saturday 10 JanuaryInstead, the problem will move to the ground. The RFI technicians will go on strike (Italian Railway Network) who are responsible for keeping the tracks and electrical systems efficient. Even if it is not the train drivers who stop, without their assistance the safety of the trains cannot be guaranteed, and this it could slow down or stop rail circulation throughout Italy.
Schools are also at risk
On the same days, schools could also experience moments of uncertainty due to the protest of the Ministry of Education staff. In these two days a national strike was called which involves all the staff of the Ministry of Education and Merit (MIM). This is not just a protest by teachers, but an agitation that may also involve ATA staff. This means that the inconveniences could manifest themselves, depending on the suspension of lessons or reduced services.
From Lombardy to taxis, a week without respite
Once the weekend storm has passed, on Monday 12 January Lombardy will wake up with shortness of breath: i Trenord regional trains will stop for 24 hoursa very hard blow for the thousands of commuters who reach Milan every morning. AND for those thinking of falling back on taxis, The cold shower of the national strike in the sector will arrive on Tuesday 13 January. For a whole day, almost everywhere in Italy (with the exception of Umbria), finding an available car in the city or outside the stations will become an almost impossible task.
Milanese metros and regional couriers under pressure
The middle of the month does not promise greater tranquility. January 15th will be a date to mark on the calendar for those who live or work in Milan: the employees of the ATM (Milan Transport Company) have in fact proclaimed a 24-hour strike which will put the subway lines and surface transport at risk. The next day, Friday 16th, the protest relay will move to the provinces and regions: in Sicily the main bus lines connecting Palermo, Catania and Enna will stop, while a Rome the mobilization will touch some suburban lines.
The last lines of a difficult month
Arriving at the end of January, the situation will be no different. On January 20th the fear of long-distance trains will return: the train drivers and train conductors of Fsi (Italian State Railways) will protest at a national level, putting travel on Intercity and regional trains at risk. The unrest will then continue like a leopard, touching Ancona with Conerobus buses on January 29th and closing the month with ENAV (National Flight Assistance Agency) flight controllers in Verona on January 31st. The transport sector is going through a moment of profound transformation and tension. For those who have to travel, the advice is to arm yourself with patience and constantly consult the websites of the companies involved to find out the time slots in which the service will still be guaranteed by law.