Why is public transportation so bad in Milan right now?

2024 has not been the year for Milan’s public transport. Frequent strikes, the delayed opening of the M4, and increasingly long waiting times for surface lines have led citizens to complain about the quality of services provided by ATM. A recent report published by MilanoToday in collaboration with the Politecnico di Milano highlighted the severe decline in the frequency of buses, trolleybuses, and trams. For example, during peak hours last Tuesday, many citizens waited over twenty minutes for line 90—an unacceptable delay during a crucial time for students and workers. According to the report, the root of the problem is a chronic shortage of drivers. ATM estimated that at least 350 additional workers are needed to adequately cover the service. Despite efforts to increase hiring, challenges remain. The starting salary of around €1,300 is considered insufficient to sustain the cost of living in Milan, where rents continue to rise. For comparison, a driver in Barcelona earns at least €2,000 per month.

Beyond salary issues, the work shifts are extremely demanding: a workday for a driver can last up to 10 hours, often split across the day, making it difficult to balance private life and work. In September, ATM began discussions with unions, distributing a questionnaire to employees to gather suggestions on improving shift organization. At the same time, the company proposed incentives such as free driving courses, subsidized housing, and bonuses for delaying retirement. According to ATM, some progress is visible: out of approximately 3,000 applicants, 400 have already started the hiring process and could enter service by the first quarter of 2025. However, public discontent is growing. The inaccessibility of public transport is hinting at a return to private cars: as seen last month, given the high demand for rides (especially during evening hours), Milan introduced its first vanpooling service with Wayla. Although Wayla’s shuttles are electric, the increase in cars on city roads highlights air pollution in Milan, which already exceeded fine particle limits in 2024.

The transportation issue has united Milanese citizens to such an extent that a Facebook group called “AspettaMI” was created, where users document daily delays and inconveniences. The group often takes a humorous approach to the situation, as despite the continuous complaints, ATM’s service quality continues to worsen. Besides surface lines, subways have also experienced an increase in breakdowns, many of which remain unresolved. Major issues include malfunctions in elevators, making stations inaccessible to people with disabilities, and the automatic doors of the new M4 line, which have already caused accidents. The central criticism is that ATM, while funded by citizens through tickets and subscriptions, seems not only to fail in guaranteeing adequate standards for users but also for its employees. Repeated strikes reflect widespread discontent. As highlighted by La Repubblica, the drivers’ situation clearly illustrates a crisis: exhausting shifts, low wages, and management that cannot meet the needs of a growing city. In the paper Milano di cosa hai paura? by nss magazine, 30.8% of respondents highlighted the need for enhanced public transport to ensure greater safety, especially at night. While rumors suggest that the municipality and ATM are already working on the development of the M6 line, it might be wiser to focus on improving existing lines, avoiding spreading resources too thin.