Switzerland’s national rail operator SBB and its cross-border joint venture TILO urged passengers on 29 May 2026 to check timetables before attempting to travel to Italy, as a 24-hour general strike south of the border forced the cancellation of most long-distance services from Chiasso and Domodossola. The stoppage, called by multiple Italian public-sector unions, began at 21:00 on 28 May and is scheduled to run until 21:00 tonight. Regional lines that thousands of Ticino-based commuters rely on each day are also affected. Trenord has deployed replacement buses between Stabio and Milan Malpensa Airport, but capacity is limited and journey times are considerably longer than the usual 35-minute train ride. According to Nau.ch, SBB recommended that travellers rebook or postpone journeys and follow live updates on the SBB Mobile app.
![Italian general strike knocks out cross-border rail links, Swiss travellers warned]()
Meanwhile, if unexpected strikes leave you scrambling for the right travel documents, VisaHQ can help. Through its Switzerland portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/), the service lets passengers and corporate travel teams instantly check visa requirements for Italy and other destinations, complete digital applications, and arrange secure courier collection—no need to visit a consulate when transport links are disrupted.
With Italian air-traffic controllers taking part in the strike, international flights from Malpensa and Linate are operating on a reduced schedule, pushing more passengers onto Swiss airports and roads. Swiss companies with field staff in Lombardy or travellers connecting via Milan face not only logistical headaches but also duty-of-care exposure if employees attempt last-minute overland routes. Mobility managers should locate affected personnel, offer hotel extensions in Switzerland where possible and remind staff that EU Regulation 261 refunds rail tickets booked through SBB channels. Although Italy experiences frequent strikes, the synchronised walkout across rail, metro and aviation makes today’s action unusually disruptive. Similar 24-hour protests are planned for late June, so Swiss HR teams would be wise to map alternative transport corridors – via Basel-Mulhouse airport or Zurich-Rome flights – for critical travel.
Meanwhile, if unexpected strikes leave you scrambling for the right travel documents, VisaHQ can help. Through its Switzerland portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/), the service lets passengers and corporate travel teams instantly check visa requirements for Italy and other destinations, complete digital applications, and arrange secure courier collection—no need to visit a consulate when transport links are disrupted.
With Italian air-traffic controllers taking part in the strike, international flights from Malpensa and Linate are operating on a reduced schedule, pushing more passengers onto Swiss airports and roads. Swiss companies with field staff in Lombardy or travellers connecting via Milan face not only logistical headaches but also duty-of-care exposure if employees attempt last-minute overland routes. Mobility managers should locate affected personnel, offer hotel extensions in Switzerland where possible and remind staff that EU Regulation 261 refunds rail tickets booked through SBB channels. Although Italy experiences frequent strikes, the synchronised walkout across rail, metro and aviation makes today’s action unusually disruptive. Similar 24-hour protests are planned for late June, so Swiss HR teams would be wise to map alternative transport corridors – via Basel-Mulhouse airport or Zurich-Rome flights – for critical travel.
