Italy - General Information

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Country Name

Italy (Italia)

National Railway System

Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane S.p.A. (FS, sometimes also FSI).

National Railway Operator

FS is a company wholly owned by the Italian government. It operates through a large number of subsidiaries, though only two are mostly responsible for train operations.

  • Trenitalia S.p.A., generally known just as Trenitalia (TI), has operational and commercial responsibility for most passenger train operations.
  • Mercitalia Logistics, and its various subsidiaries, operates freight trains as well as shunting in some yards.

Other Operators

  • Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori S.p.A, trading as Italo is an open-access operator of high-speed services, principally Torino, Milano and Venezia to Roma, Napoli and Salerno.
  • Most regional services in Lombardia (whether on RFI or Ferrovienord tracks) are managed by Trenord, a joint venture between Trenitalia and FNM (see Private Railways).
  • Most regional services in Emilia Romagna (whether on RFI or FER tracks) are managed by Trenitalia Tper, a joint venture owned 70% by Trenitalia and 30% by TPER (the former local operator on FER tracks).
  • International day trains between Paris and Milano are operated by both SNCF and Trenitalia in competition.
  • International day trains via Brennero are jointly operated by DB, ÖBB and Trenord.
  • International day trains between Italy and Switzerland are jointly operated by SBB and Trenitalia.
  • Other international day and night trains to Austria and neighbouring countries are operated by ÖBB.

Some smaller railway companies, including SAD Trasporto Locale S.p.A/SAD Nahverkehr GmbH, Trentino Trasporti S.p.A., Trasporto Unico Abruzzese S.p.A., Ente Autonomo Volturno S.r.l., and Ferrovie del Gargano S.r.l., work passenger services over RFI lines. They mostly provide local services in the vicinity of their own lines.

An increasing number of operators work freight trains in Italy.

Language

Italian. German is widely spoken in the Alto Adige (Süd Tirol) region and appears alongside Italian on station nameboards, and some French in the Valle d'Aosta region.

Currency

Euro

UIC code

Numeric 83; alpha I.

Previously, vehicles of Ferrovie Nord Milano Esercizio (FNME) used numeric 64; alpha FNM.

Timetable

Journey Planner

  • FS: Trenitalia journey planner, it is possible to select "Main solutions", "Frecce" (high speed services), "Intercity", or "Regional Trains". Choosing Regional for a main line journey may provide the option of using the slower but often considerably cheaper RV (Regionale Veloce) trains for a journey between two cities.
  • The "Biglietto Veloce/Fast Ticket" machines provided at most stations are a very useful means of (re)planning a journey 'on the hoof' if travellers need to change their plans.
  • Lombardia: Trenord journey planner shows only services in Lombardia, its results are similar to the Trenitalia journey planner and both sell tickets for services around Milano.

Actual Train Times

Downloadable Timetable

  • FS: Timetables, titled as In Treno, are shown as valid June to December or December to June, but since 2020 have been revised and reissued every 1–6 weeks. This allows variations due to engineering work to be included, but long-distance trains may be shown as running only for a few months even though they are a fairly permanent feature of the timetable. National and regional timetables can be downloaded from the Orario Ferroviario page of the Trenitalia website. New timetables are not normally available until the day they become valid and are sometimes published up to a couple of weeks later.
  • FS: Stations' arrivals and departure boards, showing also the scheduled platforms, can be downloaded from the Quadri Orario online page; note that the page is mostly in Italian: enter the name of the station in "Indica la stazione \ il comune", click on "Vai" and in the next page choose "Scarica il formato PDF del Quadro Orario" to download the departure board (the arrival board can also be downloaded by first clicking on "Arrivi" on the left).
  • Trenord: Timetables for individual local routes in the Lombardia region can be downloaded from the Trenord website - scroll down the page for the list of tables; the information is the same of the FS timetable.

Printed Timetable

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

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

The only comprehensive paper timetable, "Orario Veltropalagi", ceased being published in June 2019.

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 middle dot "·" means that the train does not pass through that station but instead takes a different route.

Long-distance trains, particularly overnight ones, can be subject to numerous variations in schedule, so may appear multiple times in tables. Notes indicating dates on which each schedule applies can be very complicated and sometimes contradictory, showing a train both running and not running on the same night.

Engineering Information and Strikes

Engineering work (Lavori): Scroll down the Infomobilità page and open the "Infolavori" headings for details of the major upcoming engineering work, split by region. At the page Modifiche programmate alla circolazione, it is possible to search for all timetable changes between defined dates, also filtering by region.

Strikes (Scioperi): The page In caso di sciopero displays information on services guaranteed to run on strike days and forthcoming strikes.

The Ministry of Infrastructures and Transport (MIT) provides basic details of forthcoming transport strikes with a chronological table of forthcoming strikes.

Bus Information

The FS timetable shows only bus services that replace trains for engineering work and on some closed routes. 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", "fermata bus sostitutivo" or similar sign.

There is no national bus planner with comprehensive information for the whole country.

Trenitalia journey planner shows several train+bus combined tickets, whose price is typically the sum of the train and bus tickets prices.

BusItalia (owned by FS) operates buses in some regions; until 2024, it also operated some rail services in Umbria around Perugia BusItalia - Servizi ferroviari, those have now been taken over by Trenitalia.

Maps

Printed Maps

Web-based Maps

Ticketing

Ordinary Tickets and Reservations

Reservations are compulsory on National service trains - defined as Frecciarossa Alta Velocità [Red Arrow High Speed], Frecciargento Alta Velocità [Silver Arrow High Speed], Frecciabianca [White Arrow], Intercity (IC), Intercity Notte [night] (ICN), EuroCity (EC) and EuroCity Notte (ECN). Overnight trains 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. It may not be possible to obtain a reservation on a particular train when using an Interrail pass or a ticket at a discounted fare. The number of seats made available for holders of such tickets may be limited and there may even be none at all on busy trains. Reservations are not possible on Regional trains but since 21 September 2024, any Regional ticket purchased in advance on line that does not have a barcode is clearly marked "Not Valid for Travel" and is automatically validated at the scheduled departure time of the selected train.

Paper tickets and reservations issued in Italy must be validated before use by stamping them in "obliteratrici", green machines (or possibly yellow for the older remaining ones) 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"); in that event it is acceptable for travellers to self-validate the ticket, using indelible ink to write on it the date, time and departure station, and tearing the ticket slightly. It is not necessary to validate tickets (i) bought on line with a barcode showing a specific train (time and date) or (ii) which include a reservation and can only be used on a specified train.

Tickets for Trenitalia and Trenord regional trains are valid for only one day and for only a limited period from the time of validation, that period is typically four hours and it is always shown on the ticket. Passengers can continue to their destination on the same train if still travelling when the ticket expires. 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.

Trenitalia journey planner shows several train+bus combined tickets, whose price is typically the sum of the train and bus tickets prices.

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.

Ticket Offices

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 accept only card payments and those accepting cash might give only a credit slip, printed on a blank ticket. These credits can be used to purchase further tickets or exchanged for cash at any FS booking office, the latter 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.

Tickets for other 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.

Passes

Trenitalia offers a very useful 3-day and 5-day pass, called Italia in Tour, valid on almost all Trenitalia regional trains; see below for exceptions. Go to the Trenitalia journey planner and select "OFFERS AND REGIONAL SERVICES" button. Italia in Tour 3- and 5- day passes can be purchased for an adult or child (ragazzo). However, note that this ticket is not valid on any train in Lombardia or the province of Bolzano, and is valid only on trains operated by Trenitalia or TrenitaliaTper. This information is correct as at December 2024, but the conditions could change, so it is strongly advised to check the current conditions. Note that these are only in Italian.

A useful regional ticket is available for the Lombardia region https://www.regione.lombardia.it/wps/portal/istituzionale/HP/DettaglioServizio/servizi-e-informazioni/Cittadini/Muoversi-in-Lombardia/biglietti-e-agevolazioni/Io-viaggio/01-io-viaggio-ovunque-in-lombardia-biglietti-giornaliero-settimanale/01-io-viaggio-ovunque-in-lombardia-biglietti-giornaliero-settimanale io viaggio ovunque in Lombardia - biglietti]. Select “Descrizione” to obtain details of the ticket, “Quando” for when it is available (1, 2, 3 or 7 consecutive days), and “Come Accedere” for details of how to buy it. Under “Allegati”, “Mappa del Servizio Ferroviario Regionale” gives a PDF map showing the area covered by the ticket. Note: as explained in the “Come Accedere” section the 1-3 day COP (CHIP ON PAPER) tickets issued by ticket machines must be validated using the 'contactless' validators and not the old ones which print the station name and date/time on the ticket.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure Authority

Network Statement

The Network Statement page gives access to downloadable Network Statements. These give very general information. Specific information about the network is provided on the ePIR website, which can be accessed creating a free account.

Gauge

Standard. Various other railways are narrow gauge, typically 1000 mm in northern Italy and 950 mm elsewhere, as noted below.

Electrification

3000 V dc.

The majority of the Torino – Milano – Bologna – Firenze and Roma – Napoli high speed lines are electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz, as is Treviglio – Brescia.

Rule of the road

Left.

Distances

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

Distances for individual FS lines are also available at normativaesercizio.rfi.it/NormativaEsercizio, in the downloadable “Fascicoli Circolazione Linee”.

Other Railways

ARST S.p.A: Passenger services on narrow-gauge lines in Sardegna. Operating throughout the year: Sassari – Sorso; Sassari – Alghero; Nuoro – Macomer; Cagliari – Isili (all 950 mm gauge). See Sardegna obscure services for details of Trenino Verde services over some other lines. www.arst.sardegna.it

Azienda Strade Lazio - ASTRAL S.p.A: Roma – Civita Castellana – Viterbo (electrified at 3000 V dc) and Metromare Roma – Ostia (also called Roma – Lido, electrified 1500 V dc), the latter in a four-track arrangement with metro line B between Porta San Paolo/Piramide and Eur Magliana. The service is operated by Cotral S.p.A. www.astralspa.it cotralspa.it; timetables at Roma – Viterbo and Roma – Ostia

Ente Autonomo Volturno E.A.V. S.r.l has brought together various operators in the Napoli area. S. Maria Capua Vetere – Piedimonte Matese; Cancello – Benevento (electrified at 3000 V dc, service suspended); Circumvesuviana lines south and east of Napoli (950 mm gauge, electrified at 1500 V dc); Linee Flegree lines Napoli – Licola and Torregaveta (electrified at 3000 V dc); Metro Arcobaleno (electrified at 1500 V dc). www.eavsrl.it/web

Ferrotramviaria S.p.A.: Bari – Fesca S. Girolamo – Bitonto – Barletta (via Palese and via Aeroporto); Fesca S. Girolamo – Cecilia (all electrified at 3000 V dc). Passenger services to Barletta were suspended following a serious collision in 2016 and although doubling of single track sections completed by 3 April 2023, trains still only run from Bari to Andria Sud with buses to/from Barletta as the line through Andria is being dropped into tunnel. That was due to be completed by 2024 but is delayed. www.ferrovienordbarese.it

Ferrovia Circumetnea: Paternò – Randazzo – Riposto (950 mm gauge); originally had its terminus in Catania, urban section now replaced by metro, section Catania Borgo – Paternò metro under construction to be completed by 2026. It also operates the Catania Metro (standard gauge, electrified at 3000 V dc). www.circumetnea.it

Ferrovia del Gargano S.r.l.: San Severo – Peschici Calenella (electrified at 3000 V dc); Foggia – Lucera. www.ferroviedelgargano.com. The summer 2024 timetable is also available here: Ferrovie del Gargano Timetable.

Ferrovia Genova Casella S.r.l.: Genova Piazza Manin – Casella (1000 mm gauge, electrified at 3000 V dc). www.ferroviagenovacasella.it The railway is owned by AMT Azienda Mobilità e Trasporti S.p.A. www.amt.genova.it, which also operates local public transport in Genova, including several public elevators, the metro (electrified at 750 V dc), the two city funiculars and the Principe – Granarolo rack railway (1200 mm, electrified at 600 V dc).

Ferrovie Appulo-Lucane S.r.l.: Bari Centrale – Altamura – Gravina in Puglia – Avigliano Lucania – Potenza Gallitello; Avigliano Lucania – Avigliano Città; Altamura – Matera Sud (all 950 mm gauge). There has been no through rail service between Gravina in Puglia and Avigliano Lucania/Potenza for many years, see Bus services in substitute for trains for which sections are replaced by buses. ferrovieappulolucane.it

Ferrovie della Calabria S.r.l.: Cosenza – Catanzaro Lido (950 mm gauge, section Catanzaro Pratica – Catanzaro Sala is rack operated). As at December 2024, passenger train services operate between Cosenza and Rogliano only. For the steam tourist operation on the closed line to San Giovanni in Fiore see Treno della Sila. FdC buses cover services on the closed sections of Cosenza – Catanzaro Lido and on the lines from Gioia Tauro to Palmi (formerly to Sinopoli) and Cinquefrondi. web.ferroviedellacalabria.it

Ferrovie del Sud Est e Servizi Automobolistici S.r.l.: Bari – Mungivacca – Putingnano (via Conversano and via Casamassima) – Martina Franca – Taranto; Martina Franca – Lecce; Novoli – Gallipoli – Casarano; Nardò – Casanaro – Gagliano-Leuca; Lecce – Gagliano-Leuca; Nardò – Zollino; Maglie – Otranto. The railway has been a subsidiary of Trenitalia since August 2016. www.fseonline.it.

Gruppo Torinese Trasporti GTT S.p.A.: Sassi – Superga (electrified rack railway, electrified at 600 V dc with third rail). Formerly: Torino Dora – Ceres (electrified); Settimo – Rivarolo Canavese (electrified); Rivarolo Canavese – Pont Canavese (service suspended). Since 1 January 2021 the Rivarolo Canavese service has been operated by Trenitalia; since 1 January 2024 ownership of both lines Torino – Ceres and Rivarolo – Pont changed to RFI and service also on Torino – Ceres is operated by Trenitalia. www.gtt.to.it

La Ferrovia Italiana (LFI) S.p.A.: Arezzo – Sinalunga; Arezzo – Pratovecchio Stia (both electrified at 3000 V dc). The service is operated by Trasporto Ferroviario Toscano (TFT) S.p.A; a subsidiary of La Ferrovia Italiana S.p.A. www.lfi.it

STA – Strutture Trasporto Alto Adige S.p.A./STA – Südtiroler Transportstrukturen AG: Merano/Meran – Malles Venosta/Mals; L'Assunta/Maria Himmelfahrt – Collalbo/Klobenstein (electrified tramway, 1000 mm gauge, electrified at 850 V dc). www.sta.bz.it The rail service on Merano/Meran – Malles Venosta/Mals is operated by SAD Trasporto Locale S.p.A/SAD Nahverkehr GmbH, which operates also some local trains on RFI lines in the Bolzano/Bozen area. www.sad.it/it

Società Ferrovie Udine Cividale S.r.l.: Udine – Cividale del Friuli. The company also operates a limited service over RFI and ÖBB lines between Trieste and Villach. www.ferrovieudinecividale.it

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

Società Subalpina di Imprese Ferroviare S.p.A.: Domodossola – Camedo [– Locarno (CH)] (1000 mm gauge, electrified 1200 V dc). In recent years the trading name Ferrovia Vigezzina-Centovalli has been used. www.vigezzina.com

Società Unica Abruzzese di Trasporto (TUA) 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.tuabruzzo.it

Trenitalia TPER S.c.a.r.l. is a joint venture between Trenitalia and Trasporto Passeggeri Emilia-Romagna (the former local operator on FER tracks). It operates passenger services over the lines of Ferrovie Emilia Romagna: Casalecchio Garibaldi – Vignola; Bologna Centrale – Portomaggiore; Ferrara – Codigoro; Ferrara – Poggio Rusco – Suzzara; Parma – Suzzara; Guastalla – Reggio Emilia – S. Lazzaro; Reggio Emilia – Ciano d'Enza; Reggio Emilia – Sassuolo; Modena – Sassuolo (all electrified at 3000 V dc except Parma – Suzzara – Poggio Rusco and Ferrara – Codigoro). It also operates local trains over RFI lines in the Emilia-Romagna region and the Marconi Express people mover between Bologna Aeroporto and Bologna Centrale station. www.trenitaliatper.it

Trenord S.r.l is a joint venture between FNM S.p.A. and Trenitalia, which operates regional services in Lombardia. FNM (previously Ferrovie Nord Milano) owns the following lines: Milano Cadorna – Milano Bovisa – Seveso – Asso and Seveso – Camnago-Lentate; Milano Cadorna – Milano Bovisa – Saronno – Laveno Mombello Lago; Milano Cadorna – Milano Bovisa – Saronno – Como Lago; Milano Cadorna – Milano Bovisa – Saronno – Busto Arsizio Nord – Novara Nord; Saronno – Seregno; Busto Arsizio Nord – Malpensa Aeroporto T2 (all electrified); Brescia – Iseo – Edolo; Bornato-Calino – Rovato (service suspended). www.trenord.it

Trentino Trasporti S.p.A: Trento – Mezzana (1000 mm gauge, electrified at 3000 V dc). The company operates some of the local trains on the RFI line between Trento and Bassano del Grappa. www.trentinotrasporti.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

See also Ferrovie della Sardegna

This blog gives an exhaustive list of excursions, some of which may well run over lines with no regular passenger service.

The Fondazione FS website lists their excursions, some of which may well run over lines with no regular passenger service.

Metro

Brescia, Catania, Genova, Milano, Napoli, Roma. Metro system at Torino features a rubber tyred VAL system.

Track plans for the Milano and Torino systems are available on the cartometro site.

The opening of the new 15 km Milano Metro line M4 was delayed with sections opening in 2022, 2023 and the final one on 12 October 2024.

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

The Roma Metro company also operates the lengthy rural line to Viterbo via Catalano.

Milan Metro Lines 2 and 3 are overhead electrified at 1500 V dc, Lines 1, 4 and 5 are 750 V dc fourth/third/third rail.

Trams/LRT-Systems

Bergamo, Cagliari, Firenze, Klobenstein/Collalbo, Messina, Milano, Napoli, Palermo, Roma, Sassari, Torino, Trieste [which has been plagued by reliability issues and has been closed since 16 August 2016]. In Perugia there is a 3 km cable-propelled automated people mover called "Minimetrò".

In Bologna construction of a 24 km, two line, tramway started in August 2024 with opening planned for 2026.

Some links are available on the Sinfin.net site.

See also Italy - Tram services over obscure routes.

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.

Most main lines in Italy are electrified and work continues on electrification of secondary routes. Work under way includes the line to Campobasso, the line to Aosta, the lines from Catanzaro Lido to Sibari and Lamezia Terme Centrale, and various routes in the Salerno area and in the Veneto region. The SAD line to Malles Venosta is also being electrified, as are FER lines in Emilia-Romagna.

Openings

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 next section of the High Speed Line from Milano to Venezia, from Treviglio to Brescia, opened in December 2016. The high speed line west of Brescia to Padova is still under construction. Contracts have been awarded for design and construction of a high speed line from Napoli to Frasso Telesino, between Caserta and Benevento. This is seen as the first stage of a high speed route to Bari. 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.

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 has a connection from the FNM line at Nord Bovisa Politecnico. Some trains continue to Pioltello Limito and others from Porta Vittoria via a reinstated curve to Milano Rogoredo. Full opening of the Passante in 2008 was 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. FNM operates many local services in Lombardia in a joint venture with Trenitalia known as Trenord.

Other recent openings and re-openings (excluding realignment and rebuilding of main lines) are:

  • A new 0.6 km curve in Sulmona, bypassing the main station and connecting the Terni and Pescara lines directly, opened on 15 December 2024, along with a new station on the curve (Sulmona Santa Rufina)
  • The Ferrovie Appulo-Lucane narrow gauge was extended 0.5km from Potenza Inferiore Scalo to new platforms alongside the existing Depot at Potenza Gallitello on 7 October 2024
  • The last 8 km of Milano Metro line M4, from San Babila to San Cristoforo, opened on 12 October 2024
  • A 1.3 km extension of the Catania Metro from Nesima to Monte Po opened on 22 July 2022
  • Torino – Germagnano re-opened on 20 January 2024, partly via a new and mostly underground 2.7 km section connecting with the FS main line at Torino Rebaudengo Fossata from Rigola Stadio. The section from Germagagno to Ceres remains closed. The whole line is now owned by RFI and trains are operated by Trenitalia (the same applies to the other ex GTT line Settimo – Rivarolo – Pont, also remaining closed in its last section)
  • Tortona – Novi Ligure re-opened on 12 January 2024
  • Bari – Bitritto opened 8 January 2024
  • Asti – Castagnole delle Lanze – Alba and Casale Monferrato – Mortara both re-opened on 11 September 2023
  • The next 2 km of Milano Metro line M4, from Dateo to San Babila, opened on 4 July 2023
  • The first 5 km of Milano Metro line M4, from Dateo to Linate City Airport, opened on 26 November 2022
  • The former Ferrovia Centrale Umbra (FCU) branch from Perugia Ponte S Giovanni to Perugia S Anna re-opened on 13 September 2022, after some 5 years of closure for rebuilding, with diesel trains operated by BusItalia, but completion of electrification is to take some months longer
  • A 7 km section of the Roma ring, between Valle Aurelia to Vigna Clara, reopened on 13 June 2022 after 32 years
  • Genzano – San Nicola (FAL) re-opened on 31 December 2020 but to note by at least 12 December 2021 this was operating as an isolated section as both Genzano to Gravina in Puglia, [which had only re-opened on 24 January 2018], and long term suspended San Nicola to Avigliano Lucania were bustituted! From FAL website News articles this may have been from 30 April 2020 and as at December 2024 there is no information on their website of any planned re-opening dates
  • Termoli – Campobasso: re-opened 9 August 2020 following upgrading (but service withdrawn in March 2023 due to a landslide)
  • Cagnano Verano – Peschichi-Calenella (FdG): Re-opened 25 July 2020 following level crossing upgrading
  • In Napoli Tram line 1 resumed operation between Poggioreale and via Cristoforo Colombo on 31 January 2020. The rest of Tram Line 1 and Lines 2 & 4 are still suspended due to construction of Metro Line 6

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).

The Ferrovie della Calabria awarded a contract in March 2019 for the reconstruction of the 32km between Marzi and Soveria Mannelli, the 'missing link' in the Cosenza - Catanzaro line, which has been closed since 2010 owing to three landslides between Parenti and Celsita. Reopening was planned for mid-2024.

In December 2016 funds were allocated for completion of the line from Ferrandina (between Potenza and Metaponto) and Matera, where construction work started in 1985. RFI launched a 310 million Euro tender in 2022 to complete the line. Under the proposed schedule the line should be open by 2026.

In December 2022 RFI awarded a €428m contract for construction of an 8 km line to Venezia Marco Polo Airport. It will have a triangular junction with the Venezia Mestre – Trieste main line and then follow the alignment of the airport access motorway.

In June 2023 RFI awarded a contract for the renovation of the remaining closed sections of the FCU lines closed in 2017, namely Perugia – Terni and Città di Castello – San Sepolcro. The lines should reopen in 2026.

Construction of the Variante Val di Riga/Riggertalschleife, a 3.8 km long east to south connection linking the Pustertalbahn from San Candido/Innichen with the Brennerbahn towards Bolzano/Bozen began in October 2023. By removing the need to change trains in Fortezza/Franzensfeste, when it opens in January 2026 the curve will give a 15-minute time-saving on journeys between the Pustertalbahn and Bressanone/Brixen and beyond. The Pustertalbahn itself is to be closed between Franzensfeste and Bruneck for the whole of the 2024-25 timetable period while the overhead line is renewed and ETCS installed. Additional closures will affect the Bruneck to Innichen section in Spring 2025 and the Franzensfeste to Mühlbach section in January 2026. When the line reopens, the only passenger service will be towards Brixen; therefore the 4.8 km line from Franzensfeste to the future junction at Schabs was closed to passengers from 15 December 2024. See the Südtirolmobil website and the province of Bolzano/Bozen website.

Closures

Unknown date in 2025: Roma Termini – Centocelle (ATAC), the remaining 9km section of the once lengthy narrow gauge line from a street level station alongside the high numbered Bay platforms at Roma Termini will close by 30 June 2025, or an earlier date when work starts to convert it into Metro line G. The line has been cut back in previous years, the last closure being from Centocelle to Giardinetti on 3 August 2015 when taken over by an underground extension of Metro Line C.

After a period of stability, there were significant line closures from 2006, mainly because of infrastructure in poor condition and no funds for maintenance. A few lines have closed and been re-opened, but most have remained closed. In most cases a substitute bus service has been provided, but some of these have later been withdrawn. In recent years the rate of closure has slowed somewhat.

Lines can be closed for extended periods for electrification work. Current and forthcoming electrification closures include:

  • 226 Montebelluno - Feltre: February to September 2023
  • 226 Feltre - Belluno: Summer 2023
  • 227 Montebelluno - Treviso: Summer 2023
  • 113 Ivrea - Aosta: 2024 to 2026
  • 313 Isernia - Campobasso: Expected to reopen June 2025
  • 330 Mercato S Severino - Avellino - Benevento: Suggested as reopening to Avellino in 2024 and to Benevento in 2025
  • 418 Merano/Meran – Malles/Mals: closing for various periods, electrification to be completed by 2025

In addition:

  • 226 Ponte nelle Alpi-Polpet - Calalzo-Pieve is closed March to December 2023 (but open for a period during the summer) for engineering work
  • 114 Bozzolo – Mantova closed on 14 January 2023 for line doubling, and should reopen in December 2026
  • 172 Bergamo – Ponte San Pietro closed on 5 February 2024 for line doubling between Bergamo and Curno, and should reopen in December 2026
  • 210 Fortezza/Franzensfeste – Brunico/Bruneck closed on 15 December 2024 for the construction of the of the Variante Val di Riga/Riggertalschleife, when the line reopens in January 2026 the only passenger service will be towards Bressanone/Brixen

Services over the Ferrovie del Sardegna lines Laconi - Sorgono and Seui - Arbatax were withdrawn from 24 June 2016, but were reinstated in 2017 except between Seui and Gairo. However, there have been no trains between Laconi and Sorgono since 2018. After several years of limited services on parts of the Bosa Marina line there were no trains in 2022.

The trains between Sassari and Alghero were replaced by buses from October 2018, because of defects with the signalling system. It reopened on 23 November 2019.

Train service withdrawals in 2023:

  • The Ferrovie della Calabria service between Catanzaro Città and Soveria Mannelli was suspended from 15 July 2023 to allow modernisation work to start. This section should reopen December 2026
  • 413 Venaria – Ceres (GTT) closed on 12 June 2023 (the first section Torino Dora – Venaria had already closed in 2020), to prepare for the change of ownership to RFI
  • 313 Termoli – Campobasso closed on 6 March 2023 due to a landslide, and currently has no service subsidised until 2033

Train service withdrawals in 2022:

  • 434 Bologna Rovieri - Bologna Centrale: Closed December 2022 and to be replaced by an underground line planned to open in 2025
  • The last 11.6 km, Milan - Limbiate, section of the city's Interurban Tramway closed on 30 September 2022, due to ongoing infrastructure safety concerns. Conversion to a double track light rail line is scheduled for 2024-2028, with 10 new low floor trams ordered for delivery in 2024.
  • 280 Firenze Cascine - Firenze Porta al Prato (12 September)
  • The Ferrovie della Calabria service between Catanzaro Lido and Catanzaro Città was suspended from 20 April 2022 to allow reconstruction work to start. Work on the section between Catanzaro Lido and Catanzaro Sala will include doubling and a new underground station at Santa Maria and will utilise part of the old standard gauge alignment between these stations. Reopening was originally planned for July 2023 but has slipped to 2024.

Train service withdrawals in 2021:

  • 330 Benevento - Avellino - Mercato San Severino (12 December)

Train service withdrawals in 2020:

  • 414 Rivarolo Canavese – Pont Canavese (GTT) closed on 23 November 2020, the line is being electrified and is expected to reopen in 2024
  • 413 Torino Dora – Venaria (GTT): This section, including a 1.7km tunnel, closed in August 2020 to allow construction of a deep-level tunnel to the Torino – Milano main line allowing through services off the Ceres line. This section plus most of the 1991 closure from Torino Dora to Torino Porto Milano is to be re-used as a tram tunnel. For full details including a map see here
  • 106 Savigliano - Saluzzo (last in the 28 June timetable, but not the 8 August reissue)
  • 259 Cecina - Volterra Saline-Pomerance; Train service substituted by buses in summer 2020, for a line upgrade, but were not reinstated in autumn 2020. Replacement buses continue to run.

FAL 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 then expected to last 6 or more months. From 15 December 2014 the section affected was extended from Pietragalla to Avigliano Lucania, with the line south of there served only by trains between Potenza and Avigliano Città. See openings for considerably later than suggested re-commencement dates...

Following the introduction of high-speed services between Milano and Napoli there is far less use of connections on and off the Firenze - Roma direttissima. The direttissima is being resignalled to ERTMS standards and there are plans to convert it from 3,000 volts dc to 25 kV ac, at least between Arezzo and Orte. This may well result in no further passenger use of connections to the old main line at Chiusi Nord, Chiusi Sud, Orvieto Nord, Orvieto Sud and Orte Nord.

Older Changes

For details of older changes see Italy - Older General Information.

Special notes

Following a serious, head-on collision on the 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. From August 2016 there were no passenger trains between Ruvo di Puglia and Andria, pending signalling improvements. Ruvo di Puglia and Corato re-opened on 4 March 2019 and later to Andria Sud. Onwards to Barletta remains bustituted as the tracks through Andria are being dropped into tunnel.

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.

There is a passenger and goods train ferry between Villa S Giovanni and Messina connecting the mainland system with railways on the island of Sicilia. 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 used only for rolling stock transfers for a number of years previously. Any railway vehicles needing to be transferred to Sardegna are conveyed from Villa S Giovanni or Messina.

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 on 2 October 1934. Until recent years the railway had been used only very rarely by special trains, and with only four Papal trains ever - in 1962, 1979, 2002 and 2011. However, it was electrified as far as the Vatican gate in October 2013, which made it considerably easier to operate through trains from the FS network as it was no longer necessary to provide diesel haulage over this short branch. A special tourist train from the Vatican City to Albano Laziale was introduced in September 2015. See route Roma S Pietro - Città del Vaticano for further details.

See also

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