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==National Railway System==
==National Railway System==
Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane S.p.A. ([http://www.fsitaliane.it FS]).
Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane S.p.A. ([https://www.fsitaliane.it/ FS], sometimes also FSI).


==National Railway Operators==
===National Railway Operator===
*[http://www.trenitalia.com/ ''Società Trenitalia S.p.A.''], generally known just as Trenitalia, is the government-owned company with operational and commercial responsibility for most passenger and freight train operations.
FS is a company wholly owned by the Italian government.
*Most regional services in Lombardia (whether on RFI or FNM-LeNord tracks) are managed by  [http://www.trenord.it/it/home.aspx ''Trenord''], a joint venture between Trenitalia and LeNord, which is part of the FNM group (see Private Railways).
It operates through a large number of subsidiaries, though only two are mostly responsible for train operations.
*''Trenitalia'' and ''Veolia-Transdev'' jointly operate the Paris - Milano night service and the Marseille - Milano day trains under the title [https://www.thello.com/?iLangID=3 ''Thello'']. SNCF alone operates the Paris - Milano day trains.
*[https://www.trenitalia.com/ Trenitalia S.p.A.], generally known just as Trenitalia (TI), has operational and commercial responsibility for most passenger train operations.
*International day trains via Brennero are jointly operated by DB, ÖBB and FNM. 
*Mercitalia Logistics, and its various subsidiaries, operates freight trains as well as shunting in some yards.
*''Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatore S.p.A'', trading as [http://www.italotreno.it Italo] is an open access operator of high-speed services Torino - Salerno, Venezia - Salerno and Brescia - Napoli.  SNCF has a 20% stake in the company.


Some smaller railway companies, including Ferrovia Adriatico Sangritana, Ferrovia del Gargano, Ferrovie Emilia Romagna, GTT and MetroCampania NordEast, 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.
===Other Operators===
*Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori S.p.A, trading as [https://www.italotreno.it/ 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 [https://www.trenord.it/ 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 [https://www.trenitaliatper.it/s/?language=it Trenitalia Tper], a joint venture owned 70% by Trenitalia and 30% by TPER (the former local operator).
*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.
*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, Trasporto Unico Abruzzese, Ente Autonomo Volturno S.r.l., and Ferrovie del Gargano, 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==
==Language==
Italian. Some German is spoken in the Alto Adige (Süd Tirol) region, and some French in the Valle d'Aosta.
Italian. German is widely spoken in the Alto Adige (Süd Tirol) region, and some French in the Valle d'Aosta.


==Currency==
==Currency==
Line 27: Line 36:


===Journey Planner===
===Journey Planner===
*FS: [http://www.trenitalia.com 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.
*FS: The [https://www.lefrecce.it/Channels.Website.WEB/#/?lang=en Trenitalia journey planner] used to steer the user towards more expensive high speed services wherever possible. However it is now possible to select 'Main solutions', 'Frecce' (high speed services), 'Intercity' or 'Regional'. 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 main stations are a very useful means of (re)planning a journey 'on the hoof' if travellers need to change their plans.
*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: Use the [http://www.trenord.it 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.
*Lombardia: Use the [https://www.trenord.it Trenord] journey planner for services in Lombardia, especially as it allows to buy tickets for services around Milano which are not sold on the Trenitalia journey planner.
 
===Actual Train Times===
* [http://www.viaggiatreno.it/ ViaggiaTreno]; Direct links to PC and mobile versions:
**PC/laptop: [http://www.viaggiatreno.it/infomobilita/index.jsp ViaggiaTreno PC]
**Mobile: [http://www.viaggiatreno.it/infomobilitamobile/home.jsp ViaggiaTreno mobile]
***[http://www.viaggiatreno.it/infomobilitamobile/pages/certificato/stampatreno.jsp Train lateness print]  (for delay repay, works only for trains in the last 7 days)
*[https://www.rfi.it/en/stations/station-page/quality-services/Public-information/Live-departures-Arrivals-Monitor.html Live Departures/Arrivals Monitor] This site provides a real-time view of the public information displays for the selected station
*[https://trainstats.altervista.org/ Trainstats] (in Italian only) This unofficial site allows to check the past punctuality of trains, searching by [https://trainstats.altervista.org/cercatreno.php train number] or [https://trainstats.altervista.org/cercarel.php origin and destination]


===Downloadable Timetable===
===Downloadable Timetable===
*FS: the [http://www.trenitalia.com/cms-file/allegati/trenitalia_2014/informazioni/orario_digitale/Tuttitalia_light%2028%20dicembre%202017.pdf December 2017 to June 2018 Timetable] can be downloaded from the FS website. As this URL will obviously change in future years, it is possible to reach it from the [http://www.trenitalia.com Trenitalia home page] > ''Informazioni e assistenza'' > ''Orario ferroviario "In treno"'' > Heading "Gli altri prodotti della linea editoriale di Trenitalia" and expand the dropdown box. Click on '''"Disponibile a questo link."''' .
*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 [https://www.trenitalia.com/it/informazioni/orario_ferroviario.html Orario Ferroviario page] of the Trenitalia website. New timetables are not normally available until the day they become valid or only a few days in advance.
 
*FS Regions; 19 Regional PDF timetables are available on the same page under the bullet point > ''"In Treno Orario Regionale digitale" , .  Expanding the drop down box and clicking on '''(elenco per Regione.)''' leads to a new page with the PDF links.
*FS: Stations' arrivals and departure boards, showing also the scheduled platforms, can be downloaded from the [https://www.rfi.it/en/stations/station-page/quality-services/Public-information/Online-timetables.html 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)


*[http://www.trenord.it/it/orari/scarica-orario-ferroviario-(1).aspx Trenord].
*Trenord: Timetables for individual local routes in the Lombardia region can be downloaded from the [https://www.trenord.it/linee-e-orari/circolazione/orario-ferroviario/  Trenord website] - scroll down the page for the list of tables. This information is also provided in the Trenitalia timetable.


===Printed Timetable===
===Printed Timetable===
With effect from 15 June 2014 the "In Treno Tutt'Italia", which is the official Trenitalia timetable, was discontinued.  
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.
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 [http://www.orariveltro.it/ Veltropalagi]
The only comprehensive paper timetable, "Orario Veltropalagi", ceased being published in June 2019.
 
===<span id="ANRT"></span>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.


===<div id="ANRT"></div>Additional Notes on reading the Timetable===
Long-distance trains, particularly overnight ones, can be subject to numerous variations in schedule, so may appear multiple times in tables.
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.
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 Information and Strikes===
Engineering Work (''Lavori''): [http://www.trenitalia.com 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.
Engineering Work (''Lavori''): Scroll down the [https://www.trenitalia.com/it/informazioni/Infomobilita/notizie-infomobilita.html.html Infomobilità page] and open the "Infolavori" headings for details of the major upcoming engineering work, split by region.
At the page [https://www.trenitalia.com/it/informazioni/lavori_e_modifichealservizio/ricerca.html Modifiche Programmate alla Circolazione], it is possible to search for all timetable changes between defined dates, also filtering by region.


Strikes (''Scioperi''): [http://www.trenitalia.com 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.
Strikes (''Scioperi''): [http://www.trenitalia.com www.trenitalia.com] and click on the following headings: "''Infomobilità''" > "''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 [http://www.mit.gov.it/mit/site.php?p=scioperi forthcoming strikes].
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT) provides basic details of [https://www.mit.gov.it/come-fare-per/trasporti/calendario-scioperi-trasporti forthcoming transport strikes] with a chronological [https://scioperi.mit.gov.it/mit2/public/scioperi table] of forthcoming strikes.


===Bus Information===
===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.
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.
BusItalia operates buses in some regions;
[https://www.fsbusitalia.it/  BusItalia]
It also operates some rail services in Umbria around Perugia;
[https://www.fsbusitalia.it/content/fsbusitalia/it/umbria/orari-linee-umbria/orari-servizi-ferroviari-umbria.html BusItalia - Servizi ferroviari]


==Maps==
==Maps==
===Printed Maps===
===Printed Maps===
*“Atlante ferroviaro d'Italia e Slovenia” (ISBN 978-3-89494-129-1) published by [http://www.schweers-wall.de 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.
*[[Printed Maps#SW-IT-SI | Atlante ferroviaro d'Italia e Slovenia / Eisenbahnatlas Italien und Slowenien]] by Schweers + Wall.
*European Railway Atlas: Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece by M.G. Ball (1991) (ISBN 0-7110-2087-6)
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.
*[http://www.europeanrailwayatlas.com European Railway Atlas] by M.G. Ball (2008 onwards)
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-2 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Series - Book 2: Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy)]] by M.G. Ball.
*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).
*The [https://www.touringclub.it/ Touring Club Italiano] publishes extremely attractive 1:200.000 sheet maps and atlases which 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===
===Web-based Maps===
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a small number of on-line schematic track diagrams.  Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a small number of on-line schematic track diagrams.  Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.
*Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_italy.php Italy Map], with enlargements for [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_milano-area.php Milano], [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_roma-area.php Roma] and [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_napoli-area.php Napoli].
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/italy.html Italy Map], with enlargements for [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/milan.html Milano], [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/rome.html Roma] and [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/naples.html Napoli].
*[[Maps and Plans#Italy|Maps and Plans - Italy]]
*[[Maps and Plans#Italy|Maps and Plans - Italy]]


==Ticketing==
==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 foundIt does not appear to be necessary to validate tickets which include a reservation and can only be used on a specified train.
===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 trainsReservations are not possible on Regional trains but since 28 October 2023, any Regional ticket purchased in advance on line that does not have a barcode is clearly marked "Not Valid for Travel" and needs to be validated on the day of travel using the the link in the confirmation of purchase e-mail.  


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.
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.


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.
Tickets for Trenitalia regional trains are valid for only one day and for only four hours from the time of validation - but see ''Italia in Tour'' below. 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.
 
FS introduced in March 2019 a combined train+bus ticket between Roma Termini and Ciampino Airport, linked to the ATRAL bus company. This avoids the unreliability of the direct coach services and was at the time of introduction cheaper than the coach.


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.
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 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'').
===Ticket Offices===
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.
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.
Reservations are not possible on Regional trains.
 
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.


A useful regional ticket is available for the Lombardia region [http://www.trasporti.regione.lombardia.it 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'' >
===Passes===
''Mezzi di trasporto e validità della CRT''. A PDF map showing the area covered can be found on the [http://www.trenord.it/media/616783/lineer_dic2012_a4.pdf ''Trenord'' website].
Trenitalia offers a very useful 3-day and 5-day pass valid on almost all Trenitalia regional trains; see below for exceptions. Go to the [https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html Trenitalia website]. Select ''Advanced Search'' to the left of the <b>SEARCH</b> box and then ''Other Services'' at the bottom of the page. Select the ''Promo (only Regional trains)'' 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 November 2023, but the conditions could change, so it is strongly advised to check  [https://www.trenitalia.com/content/dam/tcom/allegati/trenitalia_2014/area_clienti/trasporto-regionale/promo/Promo_Italia_in_Tour.pdf the current conditions]. Note that these are only in Italian.


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.
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/io-viaggio-ovunque-in-lombardia-biglietti-giornaliero-settimanale/io-viaggio-ovunque-in-lombardia-biglietti-giornaliero-settimanale Regione Lombardia 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) or ● ''“Como 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 and ''“Travel card to get around Lombardia on public transport”'' gives brief details in English. '''Note''': 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==
===Infrastructure Authority===
===Infrastructure Authority===
*[http://www.rfi.it/ RFI S.p.A.], generally known as Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, is responsible for infrastructure.
*[https://www.rfi.it/ RFI S.p.A.], generally known as Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, is responsible for infrastructure.
*TAV S.p.A. is responsible for development of high speed routes; TAV denotes Treno Alta Velocita.  
*TAV S.p.A. is responsible for development of high speed routes; 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.
*Italferr, the Italian State Railways Group engineering firm, operates in the Italian and international markets in the field of railway transport engineering.
*[http://www.grandistazioni.it 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.
*[https://www.grandistazioni.it/ Grandi Stazioni S.p.A.] is responsible for fourteen major stations.  40% of the company is owned by Eurostazioni SpA, a joint venture of SNCF, Pirelli, Benneton and Caltagirone.
*[http://www.centostazioni.it/ Centostazioni] is responsible for medium sized  stations.


===Network Statement===
===Network Statement===
The [http://www.rfi.it/rfi-en/Railway-infrastructure-access/Network-Statement/NETWORK-STATEMENT Network Statement] page gives access to downloadable Network Statements.  These give very general information.  Specific information about the network is provided on a website with restricted access.
The [https://www.rfi.it/en/railway-infrastructure-access-/Network-statement.html Network Statement] page gives access to downloadable Network Statements.  These give very general information.  Specific information about the network is provided on a website with restricted access.


===Gauge===
===Gauge===
Line 103: Line 136:


===Electrification===
===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. .  
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.
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.


===Rule of the road===
===Rule of the road===
Line 110: Line 144:
===Distances===
===Distances===
The best source of information on distances is the "''Atlante ferroviaro d'Italia e Slovenia''". See [[#Printed Maps|Printed Maps]].
The best source of information on distances is the "''Atlante ferroviaro d'Italia e Slovenia''". See [[#Printed Maps|Printed Maps]].
Distances for individual FS lines are also available at [https://normativaesercizio.rfi.it/NormativaEsercizio/ normativaesercizio.rfi.it/NormativaEsercizio]


==Other Railways==
==Other Railways==


'''ATCM S.p.A. (Azienda Del Trasporti Consorziala di Modena)''': Modena – Sassuolo (electrified) [http://www.atcm.mo.it www.atcm.mo.it]
'''ARST S.p.A''': Passenger services on narrow-gauge lines in Sardegna.  Operating throughout the year: Sassari - Sorso; Sassari - Alghero; Nuoro - Macomer;  Cagliari - Isili. (950mm gauge).  See [https://egtre.info/wiki/Italy_(Sardegna)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services#TreninoVerde| Sardegna obscure services] for details of summer services over some other lines.  [https://www.arst.sardegna.it/ www.arst.sardegna.it]


'''Circumvesuviana S.r.l.''': Local lines south and east of Napoli (950mm gauge, electrified at 1500 V dc) [http://www.sitabus.it/en/circumvesuviana-timetables-and-rates/ www.sitabus.it/en/circumvesuviana-timetables-and-rates/]
'''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; Circumvesuviana lines south and east of Napoli (950mm gauge, electrified at 1500 V dc); Linee Flegree lines Napoli - Licola and Torregaveta; Metro Arcobaleno.  [https://www.eavsrl.it/web/ www.eavsrl.it/web]


'''Ferrotramviaria S.p.A.''': Bari - Bitonto - Barletta (electrified) [http://www.ferrovienordbarese.it www.ferrovienordbarese.it]
'''Ferrotramviaria S.p.A.''': Bari - Bitonto - Barletta (via Palese and via Aerostazione); Fesca S Girolama - Cecilia (all electrified).  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 work is due to be completed by 30 June 2024. [https://www.ferrovienordbarese.it/ 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. [http://www.sangritana.it www.sangritana.it]
'''Ferrovia Circumetnea''': Catania Borgo - Randazzo - Riposto (950mm gauge). Also operates the Catania Metro (standard gauge, electrified). [https://www.circumetnea.it/ www.circumetnea.it]


'''Ferrovia Centrale Umbra S.r.l.''': Terni - Perugia - Sansepolcro; Perugia Ponte S Giovanni - Perugia S Anna (in course of re-electrification) [http://www.umbriamobilita.it/it/accessibilita/orari-servizi-ferrovia-pdf www.umbriamobilita.it/it/accessibilita/orari-servizi-ferrovia-pdf]  
'''Ferrovia del Gargano S.r.l.''': San Severo - Peschici (electrified); Foggia - Lucera [https://www.ferroviedelgargano.com/ www.ferroviedelgargano.com]


'''Ferrovia Circumetnea''': Catania Borgo - Randazzo - Riposto (950mm gauge).  Also operates the Catania Metro (standard gauge, electrified)[http://www.circumetnea.it www.circumetnea.it]
'''Ferrovia Genova Casella S.r.l.''': Genova Piazza Manin - Casella (metre gauge, electrified) [https://www.ferroviagenovacasella.it/geca/ www.ferroviagenovacasella.it]


'''Ferrovia Elettriche ed Autoservizi Riuniti Bolzano''': (From 1992 part of SAD) website [http://www.sad.it/ Ferrovia del Renon] : L'Assunta/Maria Himmelfahrt - Soprabolzano/Oberbozen - Collalbo/Klobenstein (metre gauge, electrified 1500V dc). Also see [http://www.ritten.com/en/highplateau/highlight/railway.html Renon Railway] website.
'''Ferrovie Appulo-Lucane''': Bari Centrale - Gravina in Puglia - Avigliano Luciana; Potenza Citta - Avigliano Citta; Altamura – Matera Sud (950 mm gauge). There has been no through rail service between Gravina in Puglia and Avigliano Lucania for many years, see Recent changes for what sections are operating. [https://ferrovieappulolucane.it/ ferrovieappulolucane.it]


'''Ferrovia del Gargano''': San Severo - Peschici (electrified); Foggia - Lucera [http://www.ferroviedelgargano.com www.ferroviedelgargano.com]
'''Ferrovie della Calabria S.r.l.''': Passenger train services operate between Catanzaro Lido, Catanzaro Città and Soveria Mannelli, and Marzi via Rogliano to Cosenza with a FdC bus replacement from Soveria Mannelli to Rogliano [Note: calling at Marzi but not at the station]. No train service apart from a steam tourist operation between Moccone and San Nicola Silvana Mansio on the closed line to S Giovanni in Fiore. FdC buses cover services on the closed lines from Gioia Tauro to Sinopoli and Cinquefrondi,  [https://web.ferroviedellacalabria.it/ web.ferroviedellacalabria.it]


'''Ferrovia Genova Casella S.r.l.''': Genova Piazza Manin - Casella (metre gauge, electrified) [http://www.ferroviagenovacasella.it www.ferroviagenovacasella.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 [https://www.fseonline.it/s/?language=it www.fseonline.it]. The railway has been a subsidiary of Trenitalia since August 2016.


'''Ferrovie Appulo-Lucane''': Bari Centrale - Gravina in Puglia - Potenza Citta; Avigliano Luciana - Avigliano Citta; Altamura Matera Sud (950 mm gauge) [http://www.fal-srl.it www.fal-srl.it]
'''Gruppo Torinese Trasporti GTT S.p.A.''': Sassi – Superga (electrified rack railway). 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 to be operated by Trenitalia [https://www.gtt.to.it/cms/ www.gtt.to.it]


'''Ferrovie della Calabria S.r.l.''': Passenger train services operate between Catanzaro Lido, Catanzaro Città and Soveria Mannelli onlyNo service is advertised on other lines: Cosenza to Soveria Mannelli and S Giovanni in Fiore and Gioia Tauro to Sinopoli and Cinquefrondi, apart from a tourist operation between Moccone - San Nicola Silvana Mansio on the line to S Giovanni in Fiore. [http://www.ferroviedellacalabria.it www.ferroviedellacalabria.it]
'''Rete Ferroviaria Toscana (RTF) S.p.A.''': Sinalunga - Arezzo - Pratovecchio Stia (electrified)The service is operated by Trasporto Ferroviario Toscano S.p.A. [http://www.trasportoferroviariotoscano.it www.trasportoferroviariotoscano.it]


'''Ferrovie Emilia Romagna S.r.l.''': Bologna Centrale Portmaggiore - Dogato; Codigoro - Ferrara - Poggio Rusco – Suzzara – Parma [http://www.fer-online.it www.fer-online.it]
'''SAD Trasporto Locale S.p.A/SAD Nahverkehr GmbH''': Merano/Meran Malles Venosta/Mals; Maria Himmelfahrt/L'Assunta - Klobenstein/Collalbo (electrified tramway).  The company operates local trains on RFI lines in the Bozen/Bolzano area. [https://www.sad.it/it www.sad.it/it]  


'''Ferrovie della Sardegna''': Passenger services throughout the year: Sassari - Sorso; Sassari - Alghero; Sassari - Nulvi; Nuoro - Macomer; Cagliari - Isili; Summer tourist services: Nulvi - Palau Marina; Macomer - Bosa; Isili - Sorgono; Mandas - Arbatax (service suspended between Seui and Gairo) (950mm gauge). [http://www.ferroviesardegna.it www.ferroviesardegna.it]
'''Società Ferrovie Udine Cividale s.r.I.''': Udine - Cividale del Friuli. The company also operates a limited service over RFI and ÖBB lines between Trieste and Villach. [http://www.ferrovieudinecividale.it www.ferrovieudinecividale.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 [http://www.fseonline.it www.fseonline.it]. The takeover of this railway by FS was agreed at a meeting on 23 May 2016.
'''Società Sistemi Territoriali S.p.A.''': Venezia Mestre Adria [https://www.sistemiterritorialispa.it/ www.sistemiterritorialispa.it]


'''GTT S.p.A. (Gruppo Torinese Trasporti)''': Torino Dora - Ceres (electrified); Settimo - Rivarolo Canavese (electrified); Rivarolo Canavese – Pont Canavese (service suspended); Sassi – Superga (electrified rack railway) [http://www.gtt.to.it www.gtt.to.it]
'''Società Subalpina di Imprese Ferroviare S.p.A.''': Domodossola - Camedo [- Locarno (CH)] (metre gauge, electrified 1200V dc).  In recent years the trading name Ferrovia Vigezzina-Centovalli has been used.  [https://www.vigezzina.com/ www.vigezzina.com]


'''MetroCampania NordEast S.r.l.''': S Maria Capua Vetere - Piedimonte Matese, Cancello - Benevento (electrified) [http://www.eavsrl.it/web/mcne www.eavsrl.it/web/mcne]
'''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. [https://www.tuabruzzo.it/ www.tuabruzzo.it]


'''Reggio Emilia Azienda Consorziale Trasporti''': Reggio Emilia - Guastalla; Reggio Emilia - Sassuolo; Reggio Emilia - Ciano d'Enza [http://www.actre.it www.actre.it]
'''Trenitalia TPER''' is a joint venture between Trenitalia and Trasporto Passeggeri Emilia-Romagna.  It operates passenger services over the lines of [http://www.fer.it/ Ferrovie Emilia Romagna]: Casalecchio Garibaldi - Vignola (electrified); Bologna Centrale - Portomaggiore (electrified); Ferrara - Codigoro; Ferrara - Poggio Rusco (electrified); Parma - Suzzara - Poggio Rusco; Guastalla - Reggio Emilia - S Lazzaro; Reggio Emilia - Ciano d'Enza; Reggio Emilia - Sassuolo; Modena - Sassuolo (electrified).  It also operates local trains over RFI lines in Emilia Romagna region and the ''Marconi Express'' people mover between Bologna Aeroporto and Bologna Centrale station. [https://www.tper.it/ www.tper.it]


'''SAD Trasporto Locale S.p.A/SAD Nahverkehr GmbH''': Merano/Meran – Malles Venosta/Mals; Maria Himmelfahrt/L'Assunta - Klobenstein/Collalbo (electrified tramway) [http://www.sii.bz.it www.sii.bz.it]
'''Trenord S.r.l''' is a joint venture between [https://www.fnmgroup.it/ FNM S.p.A.] and Trenitalia, which operates regional services in Lombardia.  FNM (previously Ferrovie Nord Milano) owns the following lines: Milano Nord Cadorno - Asso; Milano Bovisa - Laveno Mombello Nord; Saronno - Como Nord Lago; Saronno - Novara; Saronno - Seregno; Busto Arsizio - Malpensa Aeroporto (all electrified); Brescia - Edolo; Bornato-Calino - Rovato. [https://www.trenord.it www.trenord.it]


'''Sistemi Territoriali S.p.A.''': Venezia Mestre – Adria [http://www.sistemiterritorialispa.it www.sistemiterritorialispa.it]
'''Trentino Trasporti S.p.A''': Trento - Mezzana (metre gauge, electrified).  The company operates some of the local trains on the RFI line between Trento and Bassano del Grappa. [https://www.trentinotrasporti.it/ www.trentinotrasporti.it]


'''Società per l'Esercizio di Pubblici Servizi S.p.A.''': Napoli Montesanto - Torregaveta; Napoli Montesanto - Licola - Torregaveta (electrified) [http://www.eavsrl.it/web/content/orario-ferrovia www.eavsrl.it/web/content/orario-ferrovia]
'''Umbria TPL e Mobilità S.p.A.''': Terni - Perugia - Sansepolcro; Train services were replaced by buses in September 2017, pending upgrading the network, and resumed on 25 October 2018 between Perugia Ponte S Giovanni and Città di Castello on the Sansepolcro line. [https://www.umbriamobilita.it/ www.umbriamobilita.it].
 
Train services between Perugia Ponte S Giovanni - Perugia S Anna resumed on 13 September 2022. These reinstated rail services are operated by [https://www.fsbusitalia.it/content/fsbusitalia/it/umbria/orari-linee-umbria/orari-servizi-ferroviari-umbria.html BusItalia]   .  
'''Società Ferrovie Udine Cividale s.r.I.''': Udine - Cividale del Friuli [http://www.ferrovieudinecividale.it www.ferrovieudinecividale.it]
 
'''Società Subalpina di Imprese Ferroviare S.p.A.''': Domodossola - Camedo [- Locarno (CH)] (metre gauge, electrified 1200V dc) [http://www.vigezzina.com www.vigezzina.com]
 
'''Società Suburbana FBV''': Casalecchio di Reno - Vignola (electrified; operated by Ferrovie Emilia Romagna) [http://www.tper.it/content/linea-ferroviaria-bologna-casalecchio-vignola-bologna-borgo-panigale-casalecchio-zola www.tper.it/content/linea-ferroviaria-bologna-casalecchio-vignola-bologna-borgo-panigale-casalecchio-zola]
 
'''Trasporto Ferroviario Toscano S.p.A.''': Sinalunga - Arezzo - Pratovecchio Stia (electrified) [http://www.trasportoferroviariotoscano.it www.trasportoferroviariotoscano.it]
 
'''Trenord S.r.l''' is a joint venture between [http://www.fnmgroup.it/en/index.php FNM S.p.A.] and Trenitalia, which operates regional services in Lombardia.  FNM (previously Ferrovie Nord Milano) owns the following lines: Milano Nord Cadorno - Asso; Milano Bovisa - Laveno Mombello Nord; Saronno - Como Nord Lago; Saronno - Novara; Saronno - Seregno; Busto Arsizio - Malpensa Aeroporto (all electrified); Brescia - Edolo; Bornato-Calino - Rovato. [http://www.trenord.it www.trenord.it]
 
'''Trentino Trasporti S.p.A''': Trento - Mezzana (metre gauge, electrified) [http://www.ttspa.it 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.
Many private railways operate through services onto FS lines, and there are a few private lines over which FS trains regularly operate.


==Tourist lines==
==Tourist Lines==


* Ceva - Ormea [http://www.piemontevic.com/viaggi-treno-storico-valle-tanaro.html www.piemontevic.com/viaggi-treno-storico-valle-tanaro.html]
* Ceva - Ormea [http://www.piemontevic.com/viaggi-treno-storico-valle-tanaro.html www.piemontevic.com/viaggi-treno-storico-valle-tanaro.html]
* Palazzolo-sull'Oglio - Paratico-Sarnico [http://www.ferrovieturistiche.it www.ferrovieturistiche.it]
* Palazzolo-sull'Oglio - Paratico-Sarnico [http://www.ferrovieturistiche.it www.ferrovieturistiche.it]
* Asciano - Monte-Antico [http://www.ferrovieturistiche.it www.ferrovieturistiche.it]
* Asciano - Monte-Antico [http://www.ferrovieturistiche.it www.ferrovieturistiche.it]
* Moccone – S Nicola-Silvana Mansio [http://www.trenodellasila.it/ www.trenodellasila.it/]
* Moccone – S Nicola-Silvana Mansio [https://trenodellasila.it/ www.trenodellasila.it/]
* Sulmona - Isernia (but often only to Roccaraso) [http://www.lerotaie.com/www.lerotaie.com/home.html www.lerotaie.com/www.lerotaie.com/home.html]
* Sulmona - Isernia (but often only to Roccaraso) [http://www.lerotaie.com/ www.lerotaie.com]
* <span id="SANMARINO"></span>San Marino - [https://it-it.facebook.com/groups/618068994884889/ Treno Bianco Azzurro]. Occasional operation over ~800 m restored section of the Rimini - San Marino 950 mm gauge 3 kV dc electrified interurban line.


See also [[Italy_(Sardegna)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services#FerrovieSardegna|Ferrovie della Sardegna]]
See also [[Italy_(Sardegna)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services#TreninoVerde| Ferrovie della Sardegna]]


The railway museum at Trieste Campo Marzio [http://www.retecivica.trieste.it/museofer/ www.retecivica.trieste.it/museofer] has occasionally run historic trains over freight lines in Trieste, but appears not to have done so since 2014. In 2017 it was announced that the museum is to be renovated and managed by Fondazione FS, who wish to run special trains from it.
[https://blog.tuttotreno.it/5361-viaggiare-con-i-treni-depoca/ This blog] gives an exhaustive list of excursions, some of which may well run over lines with no regular passenger service.
 
[https://www.fondazionefs.it/content/fondazionefs/en/itineraries.html The Fondazione FS] website lists their excursions, some of which may well run over lines with no regular passenger service.


==Metro==
==Metro==
Catania, Genova, Milano, Napoli, Roma, Torino. Track plans for the Milano and Torino systems are available on the [http://carto.metro.free.fr/ carto.metro.tramway.rer.funiculaire site].
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 [https://cartometro.com/ cartometro site].
 
The opening of the new 15 km Milano Metro line M4 has been delayed with sections opening in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
 
Some Trenitalia suburban services are referred to as "Metro" and this may give rise to confusion, particularly in Napoli.


Some Trenitalia suburban services are referred to "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.


==Trams==
== Trams/LRT-Systems ==
Firenze, Genova, Messina, Milano, Napoli, Palermo, Ritten (See Ferrovia del Renon above), Roma, Sassari, Torino, Trieste [which has been plagued by reliability issues so is known to have had long periods with no service]
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".


Some links are available on the [http://sinfin.net/railways/world/italy.html Sinfin.net site].
Some links are available on the [https://sinfin.net/railways/world/italy.html Sinfin.net site].


See also [[Italy_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Italy - Tram services over obscure routes]].
See also [[Italy_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Italy - Tram services over obscure routes]].
Line 195: Line 230:
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.
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.


Electrification is under way during 2016 on the 18km between Bra and Alba, the Emilia-Romagna Region allocated funds in April 2016 to do likewise on the FER lines between Reggio Emilia and Sassuolo and Guastalla, as did the Bolzano Province for the Merano - Malles Venosta line.
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===
===Openings===
Line 203: Line 240:
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.
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. Another new section of the Ventimiglia to Genova line between San Lorenzo-Cipressa and Andora opened 11 December 2016.
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 is used by FNM trains, as well as Trenitalia 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.  FNM has taken over operation of many local services in Lombardia.
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:
Other recent openings and re-openings (excluding realignment and rebuilding of main lines) are:


* Sacile - Maniago: 10 December 2017
* Torino – Germagnano re-opened on 20 January 2024, using a new mostly underground 2.7 km section connecting with the FS main line at Torino Rebaudengo Fossata from Venaria. 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)
* 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 Milan Metro line M4, from Dateo to San Babila, opened on 4 July 2023.


* Ospedale S Paolo - Cecilia (FT): 16 October 2017
* The first 5 km of Milan 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.


* Malpensa Aeroporto T1 - Malpensa Aeroporto T2 (FNM): 6 December 2016
* 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 August 2023 there is no information on their website of any planned re-opening dates.


* Portomaggiore - Dogato (FER): 3 October 2016, but the service was withdrawn from 11 June 2017
* Termoli - Campobasso: Re-opened 9 August 2020 following upgrading.


* Marilleva - Mezzana (TT): 23 July 2016
* Cagnano Verano - Peschichi-Calenella (FdG): Re-opened 25 July 2020 following level crossing upgrading.


* Apricena Città - San Nicandro Garganico (FdG): 13 June 2016  (Replacing the original line from S Severo)
* In Naples 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.


* Fesca S Girolamo - Aerostazione - Bitonto (FT): 19 July 2013 
* Castiglione Cosentino avoiding line: One train pair daily from and to Sibari from 16 September 2019.


* S Severo - Apricena Città (FdG): 14 December 2014
* The electrification of the Bari - Casamassima - Putignano line 1 bis was inaugurated on 12 September 2019.


A line avoiding Foggia, on the course of a curve closed in 1964, opened on 5 July 2015. This links the Benevento and Bari lines and passenger trains started using it with effect from 28 June 2017.  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.
* Savigliano - Saluzzo: 7 January 2019 (but service withdrawn in 2020 as a result of Covid-19)


The railway from Varese to Stabio (Switzerland) opened to passengers on 7 January 2018 and the service to Porto Ceresio reinstated.
* Palermo - Punta Raisi: Re-opened 9 December 2018, following substantial reconstruction, including a new tunnel in Palermo.


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). 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 was due to open in June 2016 but there is no sign of when this will happen. 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.  No date for completion has been specified.
* The section of former Ferrovia Centrale Umbra (FCU) between Perugia Ponte S Giovanni and Città di Castello reopened on 25 October 2018.
 
* Through trains from Slovenia to Trieste Centrale via Villa Opicina resumed on 9 September 2018.
 
* Varese - Stabio (Switzerland) and Porto Ceresio opened for passenger service on 7 January 2018
 
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 is 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.


===Closures===
===Closures===
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.
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.


Services over the ''Ferroive del Sardegna'' lines Laconi - Sorgono and Seui - Arbatax were withdrawn from 24 June 2016, but were reinstated in 2017 except between Seui and Gairo.
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: Probably 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


Train service withdrawals in 2017:
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 for line doubling between Bergamo and Curno, and should reopen in December 2026


* - Rivarolo Canavese - Pont Canavese (GTT) (23 May): May be temporary, but signalling improvements are required.
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.
* - Portomaggiore - Dogato (FER) (11 June): Amazingly, this newly-constructed line had opened only eight months earlier, but is to be converted into a cycle path.
*26 Tortona - Novi Ligure (4 September): Said to be a temporary closure for a period of four years, in connection with construction of a high-speed line between Milano and Genova.
* - Sansepolcro - Terni and Perugia Ponte S Giovanni - Perugia S Anna (FCU) (29 September): Also apparently a temporary closure.
*46 Bologna S Ruffillo - Bivio Emilia (10 December): This connection to the high-speed line to Firenze ceased being used by passenger trains as a result of a new line allowing Padova trains to run via the low-level platforms at Bologna Centrale.


Train service withdrawals in 2015:
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.


*60 Ancona - Ancona Marittima (13 December)
Train service withdrawals in 2023:
*112 Aosta - Prè Saint Didier (24 December)  
* 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


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.
Train service withdrawals in 2022:


Train service withdrawals in 2014:
*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.


*130 (Novara -) Vignale - Varallo Sesia (15 September)
Train service withdrawals in 2021:
*88/354 Paola avoiding line (21 December)
*330 Benevento - Avellino - Mercato San Severino (12 December)


Train service withdrawals in 2013:
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 [https://urbanlabtorino.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/LINEA-122022-settembre_PFTE-NUOVA-LINEA_rev4_compressed.pdf 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.


*330 Benevento - Bosco Redole (13 February) because of a landslide
Train service withdrawals in 2018:
*125 Vercelli - Casale Monferrato (14 June)
*409 Rovato Borgo - Bornato Calino
*286 Fabriano - Pergola (13 November) because of a landslide; the line had re-opened as recently as 16 April 2012
*4 Bologna Corticella - Bologna S Ruffillo (8 December): Use of this section of the Bologna Cintura by a few Frecciarossa trains ceased, following earlier completion of a link from the Padove line to the low level platforms at Bologna Centrale.  This also brought to an end passenger use of the connection to the high speed line to Firenze from Bologna S Ruffillo.
*134 Oleggio - Laveno Mombello (December) but had suffered from bus substitution in recent years
*172 Seregno - Carnate-Usmate (8 December)
*157 Piacenza – Castelvetro (December) which had suffered frequent cancellations because of a shortage of units
*M56 Pisa Aeroporto - Pisa Centrale (December) for replacement by a more direct people mover, which did not open until 18 March 2017


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. As at December 2016 there is still no indication of when or if the line will reopen.  
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.
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.
Line 273: Line 345:


==Special notes==
==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.  Since October 2016, if not earlier, there have been no passenger trains between Ruvo di Puglia and Andria, pending signalling improvements.
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.
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.
Line 287: Line 359:
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.
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.


===<div id="VATICAN"></div>Vatican City===
===<span id="VATICAN"></span>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. Until recently the railway had been used only very rarely by special trains with 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 route [[Italy_(Lazio)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services#RSP-CDV|Roma S Pietro - Città del Vaticano]] for further details.
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 [[Italy_(Lazio)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services#RSP-CDV|Roma S Pietro - Città del Vaticano]] for further details.


==See also==
==See also==
{{Navbox Italy}}
{{Navbox Italy}}
[[Category:General Information]]

Latest revision as of 20:25, 17 February 2024

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).
  • 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.
  • 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, Trasporto Unico Abruzzese, Ente Autonomo Volturno S.r.l., and Ferrovie del Gargano, 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 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: The Trenitalia journey planner used to steer the user towards more expensive high speed services wherever possible. However it is now possible to select 'Main solutions', 'Frecce' (high speed services), 'Intercity' or 'Regional'. 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: Use the Trenord journey planner for services in Lombardia, especially as it allows to buy tickets for services around Milano which are not sold on the Trenitalia journey planner.

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 or only a few days in advance.
  • 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. This information is also provided in the Trenitalia 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): www.trenitalia.com and click on the following headings: "Infomobilità" > "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 (MIT) provides basic details of forthcoming transport strikes with a chronological table 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.

BusItalia operates buses in some regions;

BusItalia

It also operates some rail services in Umbria around Perugia;

BusItalia - Servizi ferroviari

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 28 October 2023, any Regional ticket purchased in advance on line that does not have a barcode is clearly marked "Not Valid for Travel" and needs to be validated on the day of travel using the the link in the confirmation of purchase e-mail.

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 regional trains are valid for only one day and for only four hours from the time of validation - but see Italia in Tour below. 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.

FS introduced in March 2019 a combined train+bus ticket between Roma Termini and Ciampino Airport, linked to the ATRAL bus company. This avoids the unreliability of the direct coach services and was at the time of introduction cheaper than the coach.

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 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.

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 valid on almost all Trenitalia regional trains; see below for exceptions. Go to the Trenitalia website. Select Advanced Search to the left of the SEARCH box and then Other Services at the bottom of the page. Select the Promo (only Regional trains) 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 November 2023, 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 Regione Lombardia 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) or ● “Como 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 and “Travel card to get around Lombardia on public transport” gives brief details in English. Note: 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

  • RFI S.p.A., generally known as Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, is responsible for infrastructure.
  • TAV S.p.A. is responsible for development of high speed routes; 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 fourteen major stations. 40% of the company is owned by Eurostazioni SpA, a joint venture of SNCF, Pirelli, Benneton and Caltagirone.

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 a website with restricted access.

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. 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.

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

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. (950mm gauge). See Sardegna obscure services for details of summer services over some other lines. www.arst.sardegna.it

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; Circumvesuviana lines south and east of Napoli (950mm gauge, electrified at 1500 V dc); Linee Flegree lines Napoli - Licola and Torregaveta; Metro Arcobaleno. www.eavsrl.it/web

Ferrotramviaria S.p.A.: Bari - Bitonto - Barletta (via Palese and via Aerostazione); Fesca S Girolama - Cecilia (all electrified). 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 work is due to be completed by 30 June 2024. www.ferrovienordbarese.it

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

Ferrovia del Gargano S.r.l.: 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 - Avigliano Luciana; Potenza Citta - Avigliano Citta; Altamura – Matera Sud (950 mm gauge). There has been no through rail service between Gravina in Puglia and Avigliano Lucania for many years, see Recent changes for what sections are operating. ferrovieappulolucane.it

Ferrovie della Calabria S.r.l.: Passenger train services operate between Catanzaro Lido, Catanzaro Città and Soveria Mannelli, and Marzi via Rogliano to Cosenza with a FdC bus replacement from Soveria Mannelli to Rogliano [Note: calling at Marzi but not at the station]. No train service apart from a steam tourist operation between Moccone and San Nicola Silvana Mansio on the closed line to S Giovanni in Fiore. FdC buses cover services on the closed lines from Gioia Tauro to Sinopoli and Cinquefrondi, web.ferroviedellacalabria.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 railway has been a subsidiary of Trenitalia since August 2016.

Gruppo Torinese Trasporti GTT S.p.A.: Sassi – Superga (electrified rack railway). 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 to be operated by Trenitalia www.gtt.to.it

Rete Ferroviaria Toscana (RTF) S.p.A.: Sinalunga - Arezzo - Pratovecchio Stia (electrified). The service is operated by Trasporto Ferroviario Toscano S.p.A. www.trasportoferroviariotoscano.it

SAD Trasporto Locale S.p.A/SAD Nahverkehr GmbH: Merano/Meran – Malles Venosta/Mals; Maria Himmelfahrt/L'Assunta - Klobenstein/Collalbo (electrified tramway). The company operates local trains on RFI lines in the Bozen/Bolzano area. www.sad.it/it

Società Ferrovie Udine Cividale s.r.I.: 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)] (metre gauge, electrified 1200V 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 is a joint venture between Trenitalia and Trasporto Passeggeri Emilia-Romagna. It operates passenger services over the lines of Ferrovie Emilia Romagna: Casalecchio Garibaldi - Vignola (electrified); Bologna Centrale - Portomaggiore (electrified); Ferrara - Codigoro; Ferrara - Poggio Rusco (electrified); Parma - Suzzara - Poggio Rusco; Guastalla - Reggio Emilia - S Lazzaro; Reggio Emilia - Ciano d'Enza; Reggio Emilia - Sassuolo; Modena - Sassuolo (electrified). It also operates local trains over RFI lines in Emilia Romagna region and the Marconi Express people mover between Bologna Aeroporto and Bologna Centrale station. www.tper.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 Nord Cadorno - Asso; Milano Bovisa - Laveno Mombello Nord; Saronno - Como Nord Lago; Saronno - Novara; Saronno - Seregno; Busto Arsizio - Malpensa Aeroporto (all electrified); Brescia - Edolo; Bornato-Calino - Rovato. www.trenord.it

Trentino Trasporti S.p.A: Trento - Mezzana (metre gauge, electrified). The company operates some of the local trains on the RFI line between Trento and Bassano del Grappa. www.trentinotrasporti.it

Umbria TPL e Mobilità S.p.A.: Terni - Perugia - Sansepolcro; Train services were replaced by buses in September 2017, pending upgrading the network, and resumed on 25 October 2018 between Perugia Ponte S Giovanni and Città di Castello on the Sansepolcro line. www.umbriamobilita.it. Train services between Perugia Ponte S Giovanni - Perugia S Anna resumed on 13 September 2022. These reinstated rail services are operated by BusItalia .

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 has been delayed with sections opening in 2022, 2023 and 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.

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".

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:

  • Torino – Germagnano re-opened on 20 January 2024, using a new mostly underground 2.7 km section connecting with the FS main line at Torino Rebaudengo Fossata from Venaria. 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)
  • 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 Milan Metro line M4, from Dateo to San Babila, opened on 4 July 2023.
  • The first 5 km of Milan 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 August 2023 there is no information on their website of any planned re-opening dates.
  • Termoli - Campobasso: Re-opened 9 August 2020 following upgrading.
  • Cagnano Verano - Peschichi-Calenella (FdG): Re-opened 25 July 2020 following level crossing upgrading.
  • In Naples 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.
  • Castiglione Cosentino avoiding line: One train pair daily from and to Sibari from 16 September 2019.
  • The electrification of the Bari - Casamassima - Putignano line 1 bis was inaugurated on 12 September 2019.
  • Savigliano - Saluzzo: 7 January 2019 (but service withdrawn in 2020 as a result of Covid-19)
  • Palermo - Punta Raisi: Re-opened 9 December 2018, following substantial reconstruction, including a new tunnel in Palermo.
  • The section of former Ferrovia Centrale Umbra (FCU) between Perugia Ponte S Giovanni and Città di Castello reopened on 25 October 2018.
  • Through trains from Slovenia to Trieste Centrale via Villa Opicina resumed on 9 September 2018.
  • Varese - Stabio (Switzerland) and Porto Ceresio opened for passenger service on 7 January 2018

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 is 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.

Closures

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: Probably 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 for line doubling between Bergamo and Curno, and should reopen in December 2026

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.

Train service withdrawals in 2018:

  • 409 Rovato Borgo - Bornato Calino
  • 4 Bologna Corticella - Bologna S Ruffillo (8 December): Use of this section of the Bologna Cintura by a few Frecciarossa trains ceased, following earlier completion of a link from the Padove line to the low level platforms at Bologna Centrale. This also brought to an end passenger use of the connection to the high speed line to Firenze from Bologna S Ruffillo.
  • 172 Seregno - Carnate-Usmate (8 December)

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