Milan, Lombardy, Italy – Travelers across Italy are bracing for a summer of significant railway disruptions as Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) embarks on an ambitious, multi-billion-euro modernization program. The extensive works, particularly concentrated during the summer months, will lead to numerous line closures, diversions, and extended travel times on key routes, including a complete shutdown of the Milan-Genoa line for over a month.
Unprecedented Maintenance Program Underway
The FS Group has announced what it calls “the largest railway transformation in recent decades,” with 1,300 construction sites active daily and 272,000 scheduled interruptions annually. Investments are projected to reach 11.6 billion euros in 2025, with 25 billion euros in European funds, 18 billion of which are already invested by February 2026, largely driven by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). While aimed at long-term improvements, the immediate impact for millions of commuters and tourists will be longer journeys and missed connections.
Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) reports a 115% increase in planned interruptions compared to 2023. The strategy involves longer, concentrated closures during periods of lower traffic, primarily in summer, to expedite work. This translates to fewer trains, diversions, and slower travel for passengers.
Major Closures and Delays on Key Routes
The upcoming months are packed with critical interventions:
- Milan-Venice High-Speed Line: From August 2 to August 16, a 15-day closure will affect the section between Verona and Vicenza for work on the Vicenza underpass and Montebello station.
- Milan-Bologna Line: Between Piacenza Est and Melegnano, circulation will be interrupted from August 10 to August 17 for turnout renewal. Trains will be rerouted onto the conventional line.
- Milan-Genoa Line: This route will experience the most significant impact, with a total closure between July 20 and August 28 due to ongoing work on the Po Bridge, which continues until September 30. This will inevitably lead to substantial travel time extensions.
- Florence-Rome High-Speed Line: From August 10 to August 28, high-speed trains will be diverted onto the conventional line between Chiusi and Orvieto. This is to facilitate work on the Fabro tunnel and the Paglia viaduct, resulting in longer journey times and an increased risk of cascading delays.
- Florence Hub: The historically fragile Florence railway hub will also see two interruptions in July for the replacement of the Ponte al Pino railway overpass, necessitating shuttle services and diversions onto the Tyrrhenian line.
- Caserta-Foggia Line: In the south, this line will be closed from June 10 to June 30 for work on the Naples-Bari route, with replacement bus services.
FS Assures Tourist Routes, Passengers Remain Wary
Ferrovie dello Stato has attempted to reassure the public by stating that “main tourist routes have been safeguarded,” with the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian corridors and connections to Puglia remaining open. However, experienced travelers know that even a minor slowdown on a high-speed line can trigger a ripple effect across the entire network.
In the long term, the plan promises significant benefits: new high-speed lines, faster connections, enhanced urban hubs, and more modern technologies. By 2027, strategic sections such as the Brescia-Verona segment of the Milan-Venice high-speed line, the Naples-Cancello lot of the Naples-Bari line, and new infrastructure in the Genoa, Palermo, and Rome hubs are expected to be operational.
A System Under Maintenance
In the meantime, the present narrative is one of a railway system forced to operate while undergoing extensive maintenance. For Italian passengers, the tangible risk is that the summer of 2026 will be remembered more for the accumulated minutes on departure boards than for high-speed travel. Detailed information on interventions and new travel times will be available on the FS website.
