- Title: ITALY: RAIL STRIKE STRANDS FOREIGN TOURISTS AND ITALIANS
- Date: 14th April 1965
- Summary: 1. TV.TRAINS IDLE IN YARDS (2 SHOTS) 0.11 2. GV.TRAIN IN DESERTED STATION 0.14 3. GV & CU.PLUGGAGE AND MAIL IDLE ON PLATFORM (2 SHOTS) 0.26 4. GV.PEOPLE WAITING IN DESERTED STATION 0.40 Initials WB/S/CR/JG Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 29th April 1965 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: ROME, ITALY
- Country: Italy
- Reuters ID: LVADVNT6ST497LVFFLLWQ0RBCN7N
- Story Text: ITALIANS, FOREIGN TOURISTS AND POSTAL MAIL WERE STRANDED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY A 24-HOUR STRIKE WHICH CRIPPLED MOST OF ITALY'S RAIL SERVICES OVER 90 PER CENT OF THE RAIL STAFF STAYED AWAY.
IN THE FIRST SIX HOURS OF THE STOPPAGE ONLY 26 OUT OF MORE THAN 1,000 SCHEDULED TRAINS RAN DESPITE A LAST-MINUTE RAILWAYMEN HAD "CROSSED THEIR ARMS" AN STRUCK. THE COMMUNIST-DOMINATED LABOUR UNION SAID THAT THE STRIKE HAD BEEN CALLED IN A DISPUTE OVER A SPECIAL BONUS AND OTHER GRIEVANCES.
MANY BUSES OPERATED EMERGENCY SERVICES AND IN SOME AREAS ARMY ENGINEERS MANNED TRAINS IN AN EFFORT TO LESSEN THE EFFECTS OF THE STRIKE, DUE TO END AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT (LOCAL TIME). ROME'S USUALLY BUSTLING RAILWAY STATION WAS DESERTED -- EMPTY TRAINS STOOD ALONG THE PLATFORMS -- TICKET WINDOWS WERE CLOSED.
AT MIDDAY ONLY ABOUT 50 ITALIANS -- MOSTLY FROM THE SOUTH -- SAT ON THE STONE BENCHES IN THE LOBBY. THE TRAVEL PLANS OF HUNDREDS OF VISITORS, INCLUDING MANY PILGRIMS CROWDING INTO ROME FOR THE EASTER CEREMONIES, WERE UPSET; THE STRIKE ALSO COINCIDED WITH THE DEPARTURE OF PEOPLE FROM SCHOOLS AND JOBS FOR THE EASTER HOLIDAY.
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