(22 Jun 2007)
1. Wide of entrance to Rome's central Termini railway station
2. Mid of crowds in railway station
3. Board showing cancelled train schedules
4. Close of board reading (in Italian) "cancelled"
5. Stationary train
6. People waiting in line in front of client assistance office
7. SOUNDBITE: (Italian) No name given, stranded commuter:
"You can imagine coming here and discovering that your train has been eliminated. These are things that should not happen in a democracy."
8. Wide of commuters sitting on suitcases
9. Mid of worker helping stranded commuters
10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vox Pop, American tourist:
"That there is a strike. No, I just heard about it a few moments ago. We are going to see what happens, we are going to Venice today. I don't know what will happen next."
11. Wide of stranded commuters waiting in lines
12. Mid of tourist talking to customer service representative
13. SOUNDBITE: (English) No name given, Scottish tourist:
"I am trying to get to Naples and then to Sorrento but we were supposed to leave about 7 o'clock this morning and we are still waiting."
14. Mid of stranded commuters on platform
15. Stationary train in station
STORYLINE:
At least half of Italy's trains were halted by a 24-hour rail strike on Friday, angering tourists stranded with a lack of
information about alternatives.
The Italian railways said about half of all medium- and long-haul trains were halted by the strike in addition to most local trains, which were running only during rush hours.
The walkout, which was scheduled to end at 9 p.m. (1900GMT), was called amid contract renewal negotiations and to protest at plans to cut staff at railway company Trenitalia, unions said.
Trenitalia said some service would be guaranteed, including connections between Rome and the capital's main airport Leonardo da Vinci.
While Italians have followed advisories of the strikes for the last week, many tourists arriving in Italy found they could not continue their journeys and complained about the lack of information.
At Milan's central station, about 200 people, most with suitcases, waited in line at the information desk at midday.
Announcements were given only in Italian, making it difficult for foreign travellers, and the departure and
arrivals board did not list cancellations.
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