Public transport users in Rome faced a difficult mid-morning on Friday 19 December, as a four-hour strike at ATAC, the capital’s public transport operator, disrupted Metro Line C and several bus routes serving the city’s eastern suburbs.

The work stoppage, called by the Orsa Tpl and USB Lavoro Privato unions, ran from 09:00 to 13:00 and left services on the affected routes not guaranteed, with ATAC warning of suspensions and long gaps in service before operations were expected to gradually resume after the strike period.

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Targeted four-hour strike hits Metro C and Tor Vergata buses

The industrial action on 19 December 2025 was limited in scope but strategically focused on two critical components of Rome’s transport network: Metro Line C and the bus routes assigned to ATAC’s Tor Vergata depot. According to communications from ATAC and Roma Mobilità, the strike lasted four hours, from 09:00 to 13:00, a time window deliberately outside the city’s legally protected early morning rush hour.

Within this band, service on the affected lines was explicitly “not guaranteed,” meaning passengers faced possible full suspensions, significant gaps between vehicles and last-minute changes.

Metro C, which links the eastern periphery with the historic center between Pantano and Colosseo, was the most visible casualty.

During the strike window the line was effectively shut down, with the last guaranteed departures leaving before 09:00 and no certainty of trains until after 13:00. ATAC’s service alerts reported that the line remained closed for much of the agitation, obliging passengers to seek alternatives in already congested surface traffic and on other metro lines.

On the surface network, the walkout involved bus drivers and staff assigned to the Tor Vergata depot, which operates an array of routes in the eastern and south-eastern quadrants of Rome.

Among the lines exposed to suspensions and extended intervals were 045, 046, 047, 052, 058, 20L, 85, 106, 107, 450, 504, 506, 507, 509, 520, 542, 544, 556, 557, 558, 559, 590, 628, 654, 664, 671 and 765. Passengers using these services were advised that buses might be reduced, heavily delayed or absent during the four-hour stoppage.

Elsewhere, ATAC stressed that the rest of the network, including Metro Lines A and B/B1, trams, filobuses and bus routes based at other depots, was expected to run regularly.

This selective approach reflected the unions’ decision to direct the protest at specific operational units most closely linked to their concerns, rather than triggering a broader citywide shutdown.

Union protest over safety and working conditions

The strike was called by the Orsa Tpl and USB Lavoro Privato unions following a series of incidents and longstanding complaints over safety and working conditions for ATAC staff.

In recent statements, union representatives highlighted what they described as an “escalation” of aggressive behavior and violence against drivers and other frontline workers, particularly on busy and peripheral routes where staff can feel isolated and exposed.

Union communications framed the four-hour stoppage as a response to what they see as a gap between official rhetoric and the daily reality of operating Rome’s public transport system.

They accused both ATAC management and local institutions of failing to provide adequate measures to protect staff and guarantee safer working environments, including sufficient security presence at key stops and stations, quicker interventions when incidents occur and concrete follow-through on complaints and reports filed by employees.

The language used by the unions underlined the seriousness of their concerns. They argued that ATAC workers “are not a lightning rod for urban violence” and insisted that no employee should have to risk physical harm simply by completing a shift.

The call for action broadened beyond immediate safety demands to include wider issues of staffing levels, workload and the psychological pressure of operating under continual risk of confrontations with unruly passengers.

Friday’s strike was formally proclaimed in accordance with national regulations on essential public services, with unions notifying the relevant authorities ahead of time.

It was announced as an “azienda­le” or company-level action focusing solely on ATAC’s Metro C staff and Tor Vergata depot personnel, rather than a general transport stoppage affecting multiple operators or regions.

Impact on commuters and visitors across eastern Rome

The timing and location of the strike meant its effects were most keenly felt in the neighborhoods east of the city center and along the Metro C corridor. Residents of districts such as Torre Angela, Torre Maura, Alessandrino and Centocelle, who often rely on a combination of Metro C and Tor Vergata bus routes for daily travel, reported busy alternative routes, longer waits and crowded vehicles on lines that remained in operation.

Since the stoppage was confined to the 09:00 to 13:00 window, many early-morning commuters were able to complete their journeys before the walkout took full effect.

Nonetheless, for those heading to late-morning appointments, retail and service workers starting mid-shifts, and students with exams or classes scheduled around midday, the disruption created significant inconvenience. With Metro C closed, travelers diverted to Metro A and B/B1, as well as to the Termini–Centocelle light rail and other bus routes, increasing pressure on these services.

For visitors in Rome, particularly those staying in the eastern suburbs or planning to use Metro C to reach sites near the Colosseo station, the situation required rapid adaptation.

Hotels and guesthouses reported passing on ATAC advisories to guests, while many tourists opted for taxis, ride-hailing services or shared bikes to navigate the unexpectedly reduced public transport offer. Some travelers planning airport transfers or intercity rail connections advanced their departure times to allow for potential delays.

Traffic on the main radial routes into the city center, including Via Casilina and Via Tuscolana, saw heavier than usual morning congestion as commuters switched from public transport to private vehicles.

City authorities urged patience and called on those able to adjust their schedules to travel either before 09:00 or after the end of the strike, when buses and Metro C would gradually re-enter service.

ATAC and city information channels during the disruption

ATAC and Roma Mobilità used their primary information channels to warn passengers about the expected impact of the four-hour stoppage. Notices published in the days leading up to Friday’s action outlined the date, 19 December, and the exact time band of 09:00 to 13:00, specifying that services on Metro C and the Tor Vergata bus lines would not be guaranteed.

The company emphasized that all other metro lines and most bus services would operate normally, in a bid to reassure travelers and limit confusion.

On the morning of the strike, real-time updates indicated that Metro C was closed and that services on the affected bus lines were either heavily reduced or suspended.

Passengers were repeatedly invited to check official apps and information displays for service status, although many found themselves relying on station announcements and driver communications once already en route.

City travel advisors again stressed the importance of advance planning, particularly for those needing to cross the city from east to west. Travelers were encouraged to combine modes, for example using unaffected bus lines to reach Metro A or B/B1, or to walk short segments between stations to bypass bottlenecks.

For some commuters, the disruption offered a reminder of the vulnerability of Rome’s transport network when even a single metro line and one depot’s buses are taken offline.

Despite the communication effort, some passengers expressed frustration at the short-notice nature of detailed operational information, particularly concerning which individual trips would be cancelled.

Because service in a strike situation can depend on the participation of individual workers, ATAC was unable to provide a fully predictive timetable for the 09:00 to 13:00 window, leaving travelers to face a degree of uncertainty that is difficult to avoid under Italian strike regulations.

Limited scope of the strike and unaffected services

While the impact in the targeted areas was significant, the 19 December strike was not a general shutdown of Rome’s transport system. Metro Lines A and B/B1 operated as usual, as did the Termini–Centocelle line, tram services, filobus routes and all ATAC bus lines not assigned to the Tor Vergata depot. Interurban services managed by Cotral and rail operations by Trenitalia were also confirmed as running regularly.

This selective targeting reflects a pattern increasingly used in transport disputes, where unions focus action on specific lines or depots to highlight particular issues without bringing an entire city to a standstill. By concentrating the stoppage on Metro C and the Tor Vergata routes, unions were able to underline concerns linked to those parts of the network while remaining within the framework of Italy’s regulations on strikes in essential public services, which seek to balance workers’ rights with the need to safeguard a basic level of mobility.

For visitors and residents in areas of Rome not served by Metro C or the Tor Vergata buses, the day passed with relatively little change to routine. However, the knock-on effects of displaced passengers seeking alternative routes meant some crowding even on unaffected lines, particularly at major interchange hubs such as Termini, San Giovanni and stations along Metro A and B/B1.

Infrastructure linked to public transport, including park-and-ride facilities and interchange car parks, remained open throughout the strike. However, in the event of closed stations on Metro C, services such as bike storage facilities and lockers located within those stations were temporarily inaccessible.

Passengers were advised to allow additional time if relying on these ancillary services as part of their daily commute.

What travelers should know for the rest of the day

With the strike officially limited to the 09:00 to 13:00 window, ATAC indicated that services would progressively resume in the early afternoon.

However, transport professionals note that full normalization can take some time, particularly on longer bus routes and on metro lines where vehicles must return to regular intervals after several hours of disruption. Travelers using Metro C and the Tor Vergata bus routes later in the day were therefore advised to continue monitoring service status.

For those planning to move around Rome in the afternoon and evening of 19 December, the primary recommendation was to verify departure times and possible changes to routes before leaving home or accommodation.

While afternoon and evening services are expected to follow standard timetables, unexpected delays can occur as vehicles are repositioned and passenger flows adjust after the morning’s disruption.

In addition to short-term consequences, regular users of the affected routes will now be watching to see whether the issues raised by unions prompt concrete responses from ATAC and municipal authorities.

Calls for increased staffing, more visible security measures and stronger institutional backing for workers who suffer aggression have all been placed on the negotiating table. How these concerns are addressed will likely influence whether further localized strikes are announced in the coming months.

For visitors planning upcoming trips to Rome, today’s strike serves as a reminder of the importance of checking for industrial action in advance, especially in the run-up to holidays and peak tourist seasons when transport networks are already under pressure.

Monitoring official channels and building flexibility into travel plans can help mitigate the impact of sudden changes to metro and bus services.

FAQ

Q1. When did the ATAC strike take place and how long did it last?
The strike took place on Friday 19 December 2025 and lasted four hours, from 09:00 to 13:00 local time.

Q2. Which parts of the Rome transport network were affected?
The strike specifically affected Metro Line C and bus routes assigned to ATAC’s Tor Vergata depot in eastern Rome. Other metro lines and most bus routes continued operating.

Q3. Was Metro C completely closed during the strike?
Metro C services were not guaranteed between 09:00 and 13:00, and ATAC reported that the line was effectively closed for much of this time, with trains resuming progressively after the strike ended.

Q4. Which bus lines from the Tor Vergata depot were at risk?
The strike involved buses on routes including 045, 046, 047, 052, 058, 20L, 85, 106, 107, 450, 504, 506, 507, 509, 520, 542, 544, 556, 557, 558, 559, 590, 628, 654, 664, 671 and 765, all of which serve areas in eastern and south-eastern Rome.

Q5. Why did the unions call this four-hour strike?
Unions cited concerns over safety and working conditions, pointing to recent incidents of aggression against ATAC staff and what they consider insufficient protective measures and institutional support for frontline workers.

Q6. Were Metro Lines A and B/B1 affected by the action?
No. Metro Lines A and B/B1, as well as the Termini–Centocelle line, trams, filobuses and bus routes operated from other depots, were reported as running regularly during the strike.

Q7. How were travelers informed about the disruption?
Information was shared through ATAC and Roma Mobilità announcements, including service advisories detailing the date, time window and lines concerned, along with real-time updates on service status during the strike period.

Q8. How did the strike affect tourists visiting Rome?
Tourists, particularly those staying or moving in the eastern suburbs or planning to use Metro C to reach central attractions, faced reduced options and often turned to taxis, ride-hailing services or unaffected metro lines, leading to longer journeys and more crowded conditions.

Q9. When were services expected to return to normal?
ATAC indicated that services on Metro C and the affected buses would progressively resume after 13:00, though some delays and irregular intervals were possible in the early afternoon as operations normalized.

Q10. What can future travelers do to limit the impact of similar strikes?
Travelers are advised to check official ATAC and city mobility updates before and during their stay, allow extra time for journeys on strike days, identify alternative routes and consider flexible scheduling to avoid the announced strike windows whenever possible.