Italy’s 2026 Winter Olympics officially opened this weekend, but the first day of competition was overshadowed by a wave of anti-Olympics demonstrations that spilled out of central Milan and on to the national rail network. In the early hours of 7 – 8 February, unknown activists severed signalling cables on two key Trenord commuter corridors linking Milan to Bergamo and Lecco. The attack brought morning services to a stand-still, forcing rail-operator Ferrovie dello Stato to cancel or short-turn more than 120 regional trains and reroute long-distance Frecciarossa services via Turin. Thousands of passengers—including corporate spectators, athletes’ support staff, and weekday commuters—were left scrambling for buses or expensive last-minute taxis. (apnews.com)
The sabotage coincided with a 10,000-strong march against what protesters call the “green-washing Games”. Environmental collectives, anti-capitalist groups and neighbourhood committees argue that new Olympic road and rail spurs will accelerate gentrification while offering few lasting mobility benefits to residents. Tensions flared when a hard-core bloc tried to reach the A51 ring-road near the Rogoredo Olympic Village; police replied with tear-gas and water-cannon, detaining six demonstrators on charges of unlawful assembly and masking. (ansa.it)
The Meloni government, already under fire for a January decree expanding police powers to detain suspected agitators, reacted swiftly. The transport ministry opened a terrorism investigation, while Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi ordered a surge of railway police at junction stations from Brescia to Verona. Critics warn that a counter-terror lens risks conflating peaceful dissent with genuine security threats, but business-travel insurers are now rating northern Italian rail as “heightened risk” for the remainder of the Games.
![Sabotage of Milan Rail Lines During Anti-Olympics Protest Snarls Business Travel Across Northern Italy]()
For travelers heading to Italy amid these heightened security measures, VisaHQ can simplify at least one part of the journey: entry formalities. Whether you’re a corporate delegate, a journalist or a last-minute fan, our platform streamlines Italian visa applications, keeps you updated on shifting requirements and offers expert support every step of the way. Learn more or start your application at https://www.visahq.com/italy/
Practical implications are immediate. Companies moving staff between Milan and Alpine competition sites should allow an extra 60–90 minutes for rail journeys and keep contingency budgets for taxi or chauffeur services. Travellers booked on Trenord or Trenitalia regional services should register for SMS alerts and consider flexible Tickets Italia pass products that allow same-day changes without fees. Olympic accreditation holders may use dedicated coach shuttles, but seating is limited.
Longer term, the incident is a reminder that mega-events can amplify local grievances. Mobility managers should conduct fresh route-risk assessments, brief assignees on demonstration hot-spots (Piazzale Loreto, Porta Garibaldi, Rogoredo) and monitor union strike calendars, which already list multiple transport walk-outs later this month. With reputational stakes high, authorities are expected to harden security on rail assets—meaning more spot ID checks and possible delays at station entrances.
The sabotage coincided with a 10,000-strong march against what protesters call the “green-washing Games”. Environmental collectives, anti-capitalist groups and neighbourhood committees argue that new Olympic road and rail spurs will accelerate gentrification while offering few lasting mobility benefits to residents. Tensions flared when a hard-core bloc tried to reach the A51 ring-road near the Rogoredo Olympic Village; police replied with tear-gas and water-cannon, detaining six demonstrators on charges of unlawful assembly and masking. (ansa.it)
The Meloni government, already under fire for a January decree expanding police powers to detain suspected agitators, reacted swiftly. The transport ministry opened a terrorism investigation, while Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi ordered a surge of railway police at junction stations from Brescia to Verona. Critics warn that a counter-terror lens risks conflating peaceful dissent with genuine security threats, but business-travel insurers are now rating northern Italian rail as “heightened risk” for the remainder of the Games.
For travelers heading to Italy amid these heightened security measures, VisaHQ can simplify at least one part of the journey: entry formalities. Whether you’re a corporate delegate, a journalist or a last-minute fan, our platform streamlines Italian visa applications, keeps you updated on shifting requirements and offers expert support every step of the way. Learn more or start your application at https://www.visahq.com/italy/
Practical implications are immediate. Companies moving staff between Milan and Alpine competition sites should allow an extra 60–90 minutes for rail journeys and keep contingency budgets for taxi or chauffeur services. Travellers booked on Trenord or Trenitalia regional services should register for SMS alerts and consider flexible Tickets Italia pass products that allow same-day changes without fees. Olympic accreditation holders may use dedicated coach shuttles, but seating is limited.
Longer term, the incident is a reminder that mega-events can amplify local grievances. Mobility managers should conduct fresh route-risk assessments, brief assignees on demonstration hot-spots (Piazzale Loreto, Porta Garibaldi, Rogoredo) and monitor union strike calendars, which already list multiple transport walk-outs later this month. With reputational stakes high, authorities are expected to harden security on rail assets—meaning more spot ID checks and possible delays at station entrances.
