The Italian road freight sector called for a national strike throughout the second half of March. Sometimes, these strikes could be an opportunity for other modalities, such as rail freight, which could pick up some of the volumes affected by the initiative. However, a 24-hour rail strike planned for 18 and 19 March might impede this shift.
The rail freight strike, called by Italian trade union USB Lavoro Privato, will start on 18 March at 9 pm and will last until the same time on 19 March. This is part of a four-day industrial action involving the air, sea and rail sectors. The concrete impact on Italian logistics is not yet known, but these strikes usually lead to backlogs which are not always easily cleared.
Moreover, some might see this as a missed opportunity for the rail freight industry in Italy. While this sector is calling for a 24-hour strike, road transport in the country will be blocked for two weeks between 16 and 31 March. If there were no disruption in the rail sector, the two-week action called by road hauliers could have been a chance to move some of these volumes on freight trains. On a bitterly more positive note, the strike called by rail freight should not see volumes being transferred to the road, as truckers will also be striking.
Rail freight in Italy
The call for a rail freight strike might add insult to an already injured situation. The Italian sector has been facing significant difficulties, mainly traffic interruption due to infrastructure works and weak financial support. Rail freight volumes in Italy have been decreasing over the past few years, with a 5.5 per cent drop between 2021 and 2024. The situation is similar in Italian ports, most of which have been losing rail volumes throughout the same period.
Moreover, the cancellation of a subsidy for rail freight rolling stock is adding stress to an already struggling sector. Initially, 170 million euros were allocated to this fund, which was supposed to partially cover the costs incurred by companies purchasing new wagons and locomotives. However, the Italian government cut 55 million euros from the package, with the remaining 115 million still in jeopardy due to dense Italian bureaucracy.