Italy - General Information

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Country Name

Italy (Italia)

National Railway System

Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane S.p.A. (FS). Companies in the Gruppo Ferrovia dello Stato Italiane include:

National Railway Operator

  • Società Trenitalia S.p.A., generally known just as Trenitalia, has operational and commercial responsibility for passenger and freight train operations.
  • Most regional services in Lombardia (whether on RFI or FNM-LeNord tracks) are managed by Trenord, a joint venture between Trenitalia and LeNord, which is part of the FNM group (see Private Railways).
  • Trenitalia and Veolia-Transdev jointly operate the Paris <=> Milano night service and the Marseille <=> Milano day train under the title Thello. SNCF alone operates the Paris <=> Milano day trains.

Language

Italian. Some German is spoken in the Alto Adige (Süd Tirol) region, and some French in the Valle d'Aosta.

Currency

Euro

UIC code

  • FS: numeric 83; alpha I
  • Società del Gruppo FNM: numeric 64; alpha FNM

Timetable

Journey Planner

  • FS: www.trenitalia.com. Note that the FS journey planner steers the user towards more expensive high speed services wherever possible and has no option (unlike HAFAS) to omit these trains. This can mean that options using the slightly slower but often considerably cheaper RV (Regio Veloce) trains may not be shown. A good tip for main line travel is to choose as origin or destination a medium size town on the desired route; this can throw up useful RV services which may not appear in the results for a journey between two cities.

The "Biglietto Veloce/Fast Ticket" machines provided at main stations are a very useful means of (re)planning a journey 'on the hoof' if travellers need to change their plans.

  • Lombardia: Use the Trenord journey planner for services in Lombardia as it gives regional services, especially those using the Milano Passante, which are not shown at all on the FS journey planner.

Downloadable Timetable

  • FS: the July to December 2016 Timetable is available on the FS website. As this URL will obviously change in future years, it is possible to reach it from the Trenitalia home page > Informazioni e assistenza > Orario ferroviario "In treno" > "Tutt'Italia digitale": pubblicazione digitale, suddivisa nella classica visualizzazione per quadri orario, con gli orari dei treni nazionali e internazionali, le tratte locali e metropolitane e arricchita dall’offerta di altre imprese di trasporto Scarica qui . Click on "Scarica qui" .
  • FS Regions; 11 Regional PDF timetables are available on the same page under the bullet point > "Orario Regionale digitale" , versioni digitali delle 11 edizioni regionali "(scaricale qui)" con gli orari di tutti i treni, locali e nazionali, che circolano nel territorio delle Regioni interessate. Clicking on ""(scaricale qui)"" leads to a new page with the PDF links.
  • A download program for the FS Quadri Orario timetable with individual PDFs by table number is available. Click on "Scarica qui" and follow the instructions, which are in Italian.

Printed Timetable

With effect from 15 June 2014 the "In Treno Tutt'Italia", which is the official Trenitalia timetable, was discontinued.

A printed timetable for Frecciarossa, Frecciargento and Frecciabianca services called "Orario Le Frecce" is available, at no cost, from ticket offices.

The only paper timetable still available from bookshops is the "Orario Veltropalagi" which costs €6 and contains all Trenitalia, Italo and Trenord high speed services. See Veltropalagi

Additional Notes on reading the Timetable

Two useful symbols exist which show the booked route for trains not calling at a station: in the middle of the train column, a vertical bar "|" means that the train passes through the station without stopping, whereas a dot "." means that the train does not pass through that station but instead takes a different route.

Engineering Information and Strikes

Engineering Work (Lavori): www.trenitalia.com and click on the following headings: "Informazioni per chi viaggia" > "Infomobilità" > "I lavori programmati". This gives details of engineering work month by month.

Strikes (Scioperi): www.trenitalia.com and click on the following headings: "Informazioni per chi viaggia" > "In caso di sciopero" to display information on forthcoming strikes. A certain minimum number of trains, essentially for travel to and from work/school and guaranteed by law ("Servizi essenziali in caso di sciopero (legge 12 giugno 1990, n.146)") to run on strike days, are also listed in this section.

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport provides basic details of forthcoming strikes.

Bus Information

Note that bus services listed in the timetable may use a nearby bus station or bus stop rather than calling at the FS station. This is not always made clear in the timetable and it is advisable to check at the station. The relevant bus stop can be identified by a "fermata FS" sign.

Maps

Printed Maps

  • “Atlante ferroviaro d'Italia e Slovenia” (ISBN 978-3-89494-129-1) published by Verlag Schweers + Wall GmbH in German and Italian, shows railways at 1:300.000 scale, similar to atlases from the same publisher for Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
  • European Railway Atlas: Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece by M.G. Ball (1991) (ISBN 0-7110-2087-6)
  • European Railway Atlas by M.G. Ball (2008 onwards)
  • The Touring Club Italiano publishes extremely attractive 1:200.000 sheet maps and atlases depict railways to a very high standard. They are generally accurate, though some railways that have closed or are still under construction appear as if open. The three-volume road atlas includes 1:80.000 enlargements of the major urban areas, on which railways are depicted well. Touring Club Italiano publications are not sold at many stations, but can be obtained from good bookshops in Italy (or outlets such as Stanfords in London).

Web-based Maps

Ticketing

Tickets and reservations issued in Italy must be validated before use by stamping them in "obliteratrici", yellow machines found at stations: it is not possible to buy or stamp them on board a train. Having an unstamped ticket or none at all will require payment of the full ticket price plus a fine. However it is not unusual for these machines to be broken or out of service ("fuori servizio"), so time should be allowed to find alternative machines or contact a member of staff if no working machine can be found.

Tickets for Trenitalia regional trains are valid for only one day and for only four hours from the time of validation. Passengers can continue to their destination on the same train if still travelling when the four hours expire. If a ticket was purchased in advance it can be changed for one valid on a different date, but this must be done before its validity starts; there may be a charge for this.

Many smaller stations no longer have staffed booking offices or may be staffed for only a limited period. Ticket machines may be provided but not always; it may be necessary to purchase tickets from a neighbouring tobacconist (Tabacchi), bar or similar establishment, which may be some distance from the station. A list of these is usually posted at the station. Ticket machines too may be broken or out of service. Some ticket machines give change in coins but others give only a credit slip, printed on a blank ticket. These credits can be exchanged for cash at any FS booking office or used to purchase further tickets. This can be somewhat time consuming as the transaction has to be keyed into the system, evidence of identity (such as a passport) presented and a receipt signed.

Passengers holding international return tickets issued in Italy are required to have them stamped by the train conductor upon re-entering the country. Tickets may be used any time up to two months from date of sale, but are valid for a much shorter period from time of stamping. Those for journeys less than 200 km are valid for 6 hours from the time of stamping; those for 200 km or more for 24 hours.

Reservations are compulsory on National service trains - defined as Eurostar Italia Alta Velocità (AV and AV Fast), Eurostar Italia (ES* and ES* Fast), Eurostar City (ES* City), Intercity (IC), Intercity Notte [night] (ICN) and Express (E). Overnight trains (ICN and E) offer Excelsior Wagon Lit (sleeping) cars and National Couchettes (CC and WL). Boarding these trains without a ticket will incur payment of a surcharge in addition to the ticket price. Reservations are not possible on Regional trains.

A useful regional ticket is available for the Lombardia region www.trasporti.regione.lombardia.it. Select Tariffe e agevolazioni > io Viaggio > Io viaggio ovunque in Lombardia to obtain details of the ticket. This is available for one month (Abbonamento mensile integrato) and for 1, 2, 3 or 7 (Biglietti integrati per 1, 2, 3 o 7 giorni) days. Information on its validity is found by selecting Tariffe e agevolazioni > Carta Regionale di Trasporto > Mezzi di trasporto e validità della CRT. A PDF map showing the area covered can be found on the Trenord website.

Tickets for private (non-FS) railways are rarely if ever available from FS ticket offices. If the railway does not have its own ticket office, tickets are normally available from a neighbouring tobacconist (Tabacchi), bar or similar establishment. Prospective travellers are strongly advised to look at the railway's website for a list of such establishments, as there may well be no indication on the premises that they sell these tickets.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure Authority

  • RFI S.p.A., generally known as Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, is responsible for infrastructure.
  • TAV S.p.A. tav.ferroviedellostato.it is responsible for development of the high speed routes Torino – Padova and Milano – Napoli. TAV denotes Treno Alta Velocita.
  • Italferr, the Italian State Railways Group engineering firm, operates in the Italian and international markets in the field of railway transport engineering.
  • Grandi Stazioni S.p.A. is responsible for major stations. 40% of the company is owned by Eurostazioni SpA, a joint venture of SNCF, Pirelli, Benneton and Caltagirone.
  • Centostazioni is responsible for medium sized stations.

Network Statement

The Network Statement page gives access to downloadable Network Statements.

Gauge

Standard. Some private lines are narrow gauge.

Electrification

3kV dc. The majority of the Torino – Novara – Milano – Bologna – Firenze and Roma – Napoli high speed lines are electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz, as is Milano – Verona – Padova - still under construction. .

Rule of the road

Left

Distances

The best source of information on distances is the "Atlante ferroviaro d'Italia e Slovenia". See Printed Maps.

Other Railways

ATCM S.p.A. (Azienda Del Trasporti Consorziala di Modena): Modena – Sassuolo (electrified) www.atcm.mo.it

Circumvesuviana S.r.l.: Local lines south and east of Napoli (950mm gauge, electrified at 1500 V dc) www.vesuviana.it

Ferrotramviaria S.p.A.: Bari - Bitonto - Barletta (electrified) www.ferrovienordbarese.it

Ferrovia Adriatico Sangritana S.P.A.: Operates passenger services over its own new railway between Lanciano and San Vito-Lanciano and over the Teramo - Giulianova - Pescara and Pescara - San Vito-Lanciano - Vasto FS lines. Services on its other routes (including the lengthy line to Castel di Sangro) have been replaced by buses or withdrawn entirely. www.sangritana.it

Ferrovia Centrale Umbra S.r.l.: Terni - Perugia - Sansepolcro; Perugia Ponte S Giovanni - Perugia S Anna (in course of re-electrification) www.umbriamobilita.it and click on the button "Clicca Qui per Scaricare Gli Orari Del Servizio in Vigore"

Ferrovia Circumetnea: Catania Borgo - Randazzo - Riposto (950mm gauge). Also operates the Catania Metro (standard gauge, electrified). www.circumetnea.it

Ferrovia Elettriche ed Autoservizi Riuniti Bolzano: (From 1992 part of SAD) website Ferrovia del Renon : L'Assunta/Maria Himmelfahrt - Soprabolzano/Oberbozen - Collalbo/Klobenstein (metre gauge, electrified 1500V dc). Also see Renon Railway website.

Ferrovia del Gargano: San Severo - Peschici (electrified); Foggia - Lucera www.ferroviedelgargano.com

Ferrovia Genova Casella S.r.l.: Genova Piazza Manin - Casella (metre gauge, electrified) www.ferroviagenovacasella.it

Ferrovie Appulo-Lucane: Bari Centrale - Gravina in Puglia - Potenza Citta; Avigliano Luciana - Avigliano Citta; Altamura – Matera Sud (950 mm gauge) www.fal-srl.it

Ferrovie della Calabria S.r.l.: Cosenza - Cosenza – Rogliano – Marzi; [note that Rogliano – Soveria Mannelli has been suspended and served by bus for some years]; Catanzaro Città – Soveria Mannelli; Catanzaro Citta - Catanzaro Lido (includes a rack section); Pedace - Camigliatello - S Giovanni In Fiore (the ordinary passenger service is suspended and unlikely to resume, but the Moccone - San Nicola Silvana Mansio section suddenly reopened in August 2016 for tourist servces); Gioia Tauro - Palmi; Gioia Tauro - Cinquefrondi (950 mm gauge). The services from Gioia Tauro were suspended at short notice on 7 June 2011 owing to the poor condition of some structures. Only Gioia Tauro - Palmi has any likelihood of resuming. www.ferroviedellacalabria.it

Ferrovie Emilia Romagna S.r.l.: Bologna Centrale – Portmaggiore - Dogato; Codigoro - Ferrara - Poggio Rusco – Suzzara – Parma www.fer-online.it

Ferrovie della Sardegna: Sassari - Sorso; Sassari - Alghero; Sassari - Nulvi; Nulvi - Palau Marina (no passenger service); Nuoro - Macomer; Macomer - Bosa (no passenger service); Cagliari - Isili; Isili - Sorgono (no regular passenger service; service suspended between Laconi and Sorgono until further notice); Mandas - Arbatax (no regular passenger service; service suspended between Seui and Arbatax until further notice) (950mm gauge). www.ferroviesardegna.it

Ferrovie del Sud Est e Servizi Automobolistici S.r.l.: Bari - Martina-Franca - Taranto; Mungivacca - Casamassima - Putignano; Martina-Franca - Lecce; Novoli - Gallipoli - Casarano; Nardo - Casanaro - Gagliano-Leuca; Lecce - Gagliano-Leuca; Nardo - Zollino; Maglie – Otranto www.fseonline.it. The takeover of this railway by FS was agreed at a meeting on 23 May 2016.

GTT S.p.A. (Gruppo Torinese Trasporti): Torino Dora - Ceres (electrified); Settimo - Rivarolo Canavese (electrified); Rivarolo Canavese – Pont Canavese; Sassi – Superga (electrified rack railway) www.gtt.to.it

MetroCampania NordEast S.r.l.: S Maria Capua Vetere - Piedimonte Matese, Cancello - Benevento (electrified) www.metrocampanianordest.it

Reggio Emilia Azienda Consorziale Trasporti: Reggio Emilia - Guastalla; Reggio Emilia - Sassuolo; Reggio Emilia - Ciano d'Enza www.actre.it

SAD Trasporto Locale S.p.A: Merano/Meran – Malles Venosta/Mals www.sii.bz.it

Sistemi Territoriali S.p.A.: Venezia Mestre – Adria www.sistemiterritorialispa.it

Società per l'Esercizio di Pubblici Servizi S.p.A.: Napoli Montesanto - Torregaveta; Napoli Montesanto - Licola - Torregaveta (electrified) www.sepsa.it

Società del Gruppo FNM: Milano Nord Cadorno - Asso; Milano Bovisa - Laveno Mombello Nord; Saronno - Como Nord Lago; Saronno - Novara; Busto Arsizio Nord - Malpensa Aeroporto (all electrified); Saronno - Seregno; Brescia - Edolo; Bornato-Calino - Rovato. Although FNM owns these lines, the passenger services (together with Trenitalia regional services in Lombardia) are operated by Trenord S.r.l, owned jointly by Trenitalia and FNM.

Società Ferrovie Udine Cividale s.r.I.: Udine - Cividale del Friuli www.ferrovieudinecividale.it

Società Subalpina di Imprese Ferroviare S.p.A.: Domodossola - Camedo (metre gauge, electrified 1200V dc) www.vigezzina.com

Società Suburbana FBV: Casalecchio di Reno - Vignola (electrified; operated by Ferrovie Emilia Romagna) www.suburbanafbv.it

Trasporto Ferroviario Toscano S.p.A.: Sinalunga - Arezzo - Pratovecchio Stia (electrified) www.trasportoferroviariotoscano.it

Trentino Trasporti S.p.A: Trento - Marilleva (metre gauge, electrified) www.ttspa.it

Many private railways operate through services onto FS lines, and there are a few private lines over which FS trains regularly operate.

Tourist lines

The railway museum at Trieste Campo Marzio www.retecivica.trieste.it/museofer occasionally runs historic trains over freight lines in Trieste.

Metro

Catania, Genova, Milano, Napoli, Roma, Torino. Track plans for the Milano and Torino systems are available on the carto.metro.tramway.rer.funiculaire site.

Some Trenitalia suburban services are referred to "Metro" and this may give rise to confusion, particularly in Napoli.

Trams

Firenze, Genova, Messina, Milano, Napoli, Palermo, Ritten (See Ferrovia del Renon above), Roma, Sassari, Torino, Trieste

Some links are available on the Sinfin.net site.

See also Tram services over obscure routes - Italy.

Recent and Future Changes

General

The absorption of the Ferrovie Sud Est by the Ferrovie dello Stato Group was agreed on 23 May 2016 owing to the excessive debts of the former.

Openings

The next section of the High Speed Line from Milano to Venezia, 39·6 km from Treviglio – Brescia has commenced testing with opening planned for December 2016.

Due to the mountainous nature of much of Italy, most lines are very scenic. However, the original railways were very slow, due to sharp curves and steep gradients. For much of the 20th century, cut offs and completely new main lines were built to speed up services. Foremost among these is the Roma - Firenze direttissima. Unlike high-speed lines in France and Germany, this does not have special signalling and can be used by most trains without modification. The high speed trunk line from Torino to Salerno is now complete, with the openings on 13 December 2009 between Novara and Milano, Milano and Bologna, Bologna and Firenze and between Napoli and Salerno, and the extension of the Roma - Napoli line from Gricignano into Napoli. The direct connection between the Roma - Napoli and Napoli - Salerno high speed lines, avoiding Napoli Centrale, became available for traffic on 13 October 2013.

The Bologna Passante, taking the high speed under Bologna Centrale, opened on 22 June 2012. The AV station on the Passante opened with limited facilities in December 2012 and fully in 2013. The high speed lines are electrified for most of their length at 25KV 50Hz and used only by a limited train fleet, apart from Napoli - Salerno which is common user and electrified at 3kV dc. The high speed line from Milano to Padova is still under construction. There is an ambitious plan for a new line, in a long tunnel under Mont Cenis, to link Torino with Lyon and the French high speed network, but this is many years from realisation.

Many other cut-offs and new lines are under construction, but work may proceed slowly and some projects are suspended periodically. Routes that include sections which have been rebuilt and diverted significantly in recent years include: Verona to Brennero, Gemona del Friuli to Tarvisio, Ventimiglia to Genova, Parma to La Spezia, parts of the Adriatic coast line, Bari to Taranto, Messina to Palermo and the railway into Siracusa from the north.

A currently freight only curve avoiding Foggia on the course of a curve closed in 1964 opened on 5 July 2015.

Another new section of the Ventimiglia to Genova line between San Lorenzo-Cipressa and Andora is due to open at the December 2016 timetable change.

In April 2015 funds were allocated for completion of the first section (Valle Aurelia - Vigna Clara) of the never completed Roma northern ring line. It is due to open in June 2016 but there is no sign that this will happen.

Recent urban developments have been construction of metros in Torino and Catania, a tram system in Sassari and a new railway, the Passante, in tunnel under the centre of Milano. The Passante runs from Certosa to Porta Vittoria and is used by FNM trains, as well as FS ones, by means of a connection from Nord Bovisa Politecnico. Some trains continue to Pioltello Limito and others from Porta Vittoria via a reinstated curve to Milano Rogoredo. Opening of the Passante has been accompanied by a reorganisation of local train services around Milano, including re-introduction of regular trains between Milano S Cristoforo and Milano Lambrate via Porta Romana. Some FNM trains have been extended from Seveso over the link, previously used only for freight, to Camnago-Lentate on the FS main line to Chiasso.

The line from Merano/Meran to Malles-Venosta/Mals has been re-opened and is to be electrified by 2019. The extension of the Trento - Marilleva line to Mezzana opened on 23 July 2016. The new Portomaggiore - Dogato line opened on 3 October 2016, 16 years after construction started. New railways have been built to airports at Milano Malpensa and Palermo; a loop line on the Ferrotramviaria SpA to serve Bari airport was formally opened on 19 July 2013. The line from Treviso to Portogruaro Caorle has been electrified and re-opened to passengers. The ATCM line from Sassuolo has been extended to the FS station at Modena and a passenger service to Bologna reinstated on the Vignola branch. The branch from Foggia to Lucera has also re-opened for passengers. The freight only Rovato Borgo - Bornato Calino FNM line opened to passengers on 13 June 2010. A very minor opening on 23 July 2011 was the extension of the Carbonia branch in Sicilia, 0.7 km along the freight line to a former coal mine, to a new station at Carbonia Serbariu, replacing the existing station. Gravina in Puglia - Gioia del Colle reopened on 6 February 2012. Fabriano - Pergola reopened on 16 April 2012 (but was blocked by a landslide in November 2013 and remains closed as at June 2014) and Cecina - Volterra the following day. The first section of a lengthy cutoff on the Ferrovie del Gargano, linking the main line junction of San Severo to a new Apricena station much nearer the town centre, opened in mid December 2013. The extension to join the existing line line to Peschici is now expected to open in 2016. A 5 km section of the Ferrovie della Calabria from Rogliano to Marzi was reopened on 23 September 2013. Avezzano - Roccasecca was replaced by buses on 9 September 2013, owing to new safety rules, but reopened after refurbishment on 1 October 2014. The 950 mm gauge Gioia Tauro - Palmi line, which closed on probably 7 June 2011 owing to the poor condition of some structures, was anticipated to reopen in April 2015 but has not with no evidence at Gioia Tauro in May 2016 that this would happen any time soon. The Ferrovie della Calabria reportedly awarded a contract in July 2014 for the construction of a new 5 km line between Dulcino and Catanzaro Germaneto (the FS station outside the city).

With effect from 11 March 2016, excursion trains to Porto Empedocle (in Sicily) were extended 0.7 km to Porto Empedocle Succarsale, which was closed in 1978. The new Apricena Cittá - San Nicandro Garganico line of the Ferrovie del Gargano opened on 13 June 2016, ending the isolation of the line thence to Peschici-Calanella.

Closures

Another section of the Ventimiglia to Genova line between San Lorenzo-Cipressa and Andora is due to be replaced by a new line at the December 2016 timetable change.

112 Aosta - Prè Saint Didier closed on 24 December 2015

60 [part] Ancona - Ancona Marittima closed on 13 December 2015

The San Severo - San Nicandro Garganico section of the Ferrovie del Gargano closed on 20 September 2015. San Nicandro Garganico - Peschici-Calanella then became an isolated piece of railway until the new line from Apricena Cittá to San Nicandro Garganico opened on 13 June 2016.

The 950mm ATAC line from Roma Laziali to Giardinetti was cut back 3km to terminate at Centocelle with effect from 3 August 2015 as this section was duplicated by an extension of Metro Line C.

The 2014-2015 timetable saw the Paola avoiding line in Calabria lose all its services and part 392 on Sicily from Canicatti – Gela was bustitued from 21 December 2014 for long term engineering work which continues into the 2015/16 timetable period

The new Regional government in Sardegna wishes to close all the lines carrying only tourist traffic: Nulvi - Palau, Macomer - Bosa Marina, Mandas - Isili and Mandas - Arbatax. This was originally proposed for June 2014 but was subsequently reprieved. However, all traffic on the (Mandas -) Laconi - Sorgono and (Mandas -) Seui - Arbatax sections was suspended from 24 June 2016, almost certainly because of poor infrastructure.

Services between (Gravina in Puglia -) Genzano and Pietragalla (- Potenza) (Ferrovie Appulo-Lucane) were substituted by buses from 24 June 2013 or earlier for engineering work which was expected to last 6 or more months. From 15 December 2014 the section affected was extended from Pietragalla to Potenza, although the line south of Avigliano Luciana is still served by trains to Avigliano Città. As at February 2015 there is no indication when or if the line will reopen.

130 (Novara -) Vignale - Varallo Sesia lost its passenger service from 15 September 2014.

The following lines lost their passenger service from 15 December 2013:

  • 134 Oleggio - Laveno Mombello, which had suffered from bus substitution in recent years
  • 157 Piacenza - Catelvetro, which had suffered frequent cancellations in late 2013 owing to shortage of units
  • M56 Pisa Aeroporto - Pisa Centrale related to replacement by a more direct people mover, due to open by 31 December 2015 but delayed

Vercelli to Casale Monferrato closed 14 June 2012 for the summer holiday period and failed to reopen for 'economic reasons'.

Although many rural lines have a very sparse service, closures have been few in recent years. The most significant was the Sangritana line from S Vito to Castel di Sangro. Although it seems very difficult to withdraw train services in Italy, the pace of closures seems to be accelerating. Castel di Sangro - Carpinone, Avellino - Rocchetta San Antonio Lacedonia and the short Castellammare - Gragnano branch lost their services in December 2010. The 950 mm gauge lines from Gioia Tauro to Cinquefrondi and Sinopoli were closed at short notice on 7 June 2011 owing to the poor condition of some structures. The Rocchetta S Antonio - Gravina in Puglia - Gioia del Colle line closed in October 2011 (but partially reopened in February 2012) and Sulmona - Castel di Sangro in December 2011, (though Castel di Sangro to Sulmona closed again due to track condition in October 2013). Service on the 950 mm gauge (Cosenza -) Pedace - Spezzano Sila (- Camigliatello - S. Giovanni in Fiore) line was suspended beyond Serrapedace after the line was severed by a landslip beyond Santojanni station on an unknown date, and finally withdrawn in 2008. Trains between Rogliano and Colosimi (the middle section of the 950 mm gauge Cosenza - Catanzaro Lido Ferrovie della Calabria ‘main line’) were replaced by bus, probably on 17 December 2010 when a new rail timetable for this line came into force but maybe prior to that.

Problems with infrastructure have also given rise to closures which are supposedly temporary but can be quite long lasting, with the possibility of reopening seeming uncertain: Castagnole delle Lanze - Alba in April 2010; Mortara - Casale Monferrato - Asti from September 2010 and Chivasso - Asti in September 2011. In May 2011 the Caltagirone - Gela section of the Gela - Catania line was closed owing to the collapse of a bridge, apparently due to poor quality of construction. All these lines remain closed as at March 2013.

The following lines in Piemonte lost their passenger service on and from 17 June 2012:

  • 102 Pinerolo - Torre Pellice
  • 106 Savigliano – Saluzzo - Cuneo
  • 108 Cuneo - Mondovì
  • 114 Ceva - Ormea
  • 122 Asti - Castagnole delle Lanze
  • 124 Alessandria - Nizza Monferrato - Castagnole delle Lanze
  • 127 Santhià - Arona
  • 143 Alessandria - Ovada

Chivasso - Asti and Casale Monferrato - Asti, where trains had already been replaced by buses, were closed on the same date. 145 Novi Ligure - Tortona did not close on this date, but the service was reduced. However, Piemonte region is tendering for private operation of 102 Pinerolo - Torre Pellice, 130 (Novara -) Vignale - Varallo Sesia and 143 Alessandria - Ovada. No contracts had yet been awarded as at October 2013.

The service on 233 Sacile – Gemona del Friuli was replaced by buses from 26 August 2012 owing to a landslide.

The following lines in Campania lost their passenger service on and from 9 September 2012:

  • 325 Sarno - Codola
  • 327 Torre Annunziata Centrale - Castellammare di Stabia
  • 330 Mercato San Severino - Avellino - Benevento

The service on 310 Priverno-Fossanova - Terracina was replaced by buses from 1 October 2012. The service on part of 91, Metaponto - Sibari, was suspended on 9 December 2012 but later reinstated; 330 Benevento - Bosco Redole was suspended on 13 February 2013 because of a landslip. The service on 125 (part) Vercelli - Casale Monferrato was replaced by buses for the summer of 2013 - presumably at the June timetable change. However, Piemonte region decided not to resume train services on the scheduled date of 8 September 2013.

Special notes

Following a serious, head-on collision on Ferrotramviaria line between Bari and Barletta, from September 2016 a 50 km/hr speed limit was imposed on some local (non-FS) lines which do not have an adequate block working system. This is likely to affect timetables and timekeeping until new schedules are devised.

Theft is a particular problem at main stations. Luggage should be closely watched at all times and precautions taken against pickpockets. Some thieves are very young and many operate in groups. A common technique is to create a distraction, such as engaging a traveller in conversation, to draw attention from robbery by accomplices. Crime can also be a problem on overnight trains, which may also be very crowded. It is sensible to book a couchette, at modest cost, as these provide more space and greater security.

Railway police will be found at all but local stations. They, or other Trenitalia staff, may raise objections to photography or waiting for trains on platforms, rather than in waiting rooms, and seem particularly keen to prevent anyone crossing the tracks where a subway ("sottopassagio") is provided. At some main stations access to platforms is confined to those with travel tickets, and tickets are sometimes checked at platform barriers.

At places served by private railways and Trenitalia interchange arrangements vary considerably. In certain cases there is significant integration and co-ordination of operations, but at some places connections seem unplanned and merely by chance, so trains may not wait for the other operator’s late running service. Private railways may use the FS station, but often have their own platforms and booking office (often private railway tickets are obtained from the station bar or café). Their services may not be listed on the Trenitalia arrivals and departures posters. There are entirely separate stations at a few places. Through tickets are usually available between private railways and Trenitalia, but some private railways do not issue return tickets for local journeys.

Departure information at stations, especially in the South, can be sparse and incorrect. Services operated by Ferrovie del Sud Est may vary from the published timetable, particularly south of Lecce. Trains depart at the advertised times, but passengers may be required to change trains at junctions where a through service is shown and, conversely, some connections may work as through trains.

Their is a passenger and goods Train ferry between Villa S Giovanni and Messina connecting the mainland system with railways on the island of Sicilia that used to be through services from Milan but in recent years only to/from Rome. Sardegna is no longer served by train ferry from Civitavecchia on the mainland to Golfo Aranci as the link span and associated trackwork at Civitavecchia were dismantled in Summer 2015. It had been stock transfer only for a number of years previously.

Strikes (scioperi) are quite common, but a guaranteed minimum service is advertised to operate on such occasions. Trenitalia trains supposed to run on strike days are listed in “In Treno” and details are sometimes posted at stations.

The Italian for "motor coach" is "pullman", so any reference to travel by pullman is to a trip by road. Although "carrozza" usually means a railway carriage, a journey advertised to be by carrozza (rather than by train) will use a horse-drawn road vehicle.

Vatican City

RFI owns the 1.27 km Vatican Railway, the world's shortest international railway, built by FS in accordance with the Lateran Treaty of 1929 and opened in 1933. It was electrified in October 2013. The railway has been used only very rarely by special trains and has seen only two Papal trains - in 1962 and 1979. However, a special tourist train from the Vatican City to Albano Laziale was introduced in September 2015. See the Vatican Museums website.

See also