Extensive Investment in Italian Railway Network: Over 1,300 Construction Sites Active Daily
Rome, May 11 – Italy’s railway network is undergoing an unprecedented transformation, with over 1,300 active construction sites daily and a staggering €11.6 billion investment planned for 2025. This massive undertaking, encompassing major infrastructure projects, ordinary and extraordinary maintenance, and technological upgrades, was detailed today by Aldo Isi, CEO and General Manager of Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI), during a press conference at the FS Group headquarters in Rome.
The volume of RFI’s investments has surged by 49% compared to 2023, solidifying the FS Group’s position as the country’s leading infrastructure investor. Of the total investments, 37% is allocated to maintenance and enhancing infrastructure resilience, while 63% is directed towards strategic large-scale projects. Concurrently, the number of managed interruptions by RFI has increased by approximately 115% since 2023, largely to facilitate the progress of projects funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).
Naples-Cancello Section to Boost Campania’s Connectivity
A significant milestone in this development is the impending activation of the Naples-Cancello section of the Naples-Bari high-speed/high-capacity line, scheduled for early July 2026. This new section will enable interchange with the Naples Afragola station, establishing it as a crucial hub for mobility in Campania. Additionally, works to accelerate the Battipaglia-Potenza line in Campania and Basilicata will be completed, and the technological upgrade of the ERTMS system on the Rome-Naples high-speed/high-capacity line will continue.
To manage the evolving construction activities, RFI has adopted a new model of longer interruptions, concentrated during periods of lower traffic. This approach allows for multiple activities to be conducted simultaneously, optimizing the use of technical and economic resources, and reducing the overall impact on railway circulation in the medium to long term. This new strategy also enables the concentration of interventions within well-defined timeframes, maximizing the effectiveness of the works and rationalizing inconvenience for travelers.
Planned Interruptions and Alternative Solutions Across the National Network
Several programmed interruptions are anticipated across the national railway network in the coming months, with RFI ensuring adequate levels of mobility and railway services through alternative routes and service adjustments:
- Milan-Venice High-Speed/High-Capacity Line: A 15-day interruption between Verona and Vicenza from August 2-16 for the construction of the Vicenza underpass and works at Montebello station, with route deviations.
- Florence Node: Interruptions from July 5-9 and July 26-30 for the second phase of replacing the Ponte al Pino railway overpass, involving bus shuttles between Florence Santa Maria Novella and Florence Campo di Marte or deviations to the Tyrrhenian line.
- Milan-Bologna High-Speed/High-Capacity Line: An eight-day interruption between Piacenza Est and Melegnano from August 10-17 for turnout renewal, with alternative solutions on the conventional Milan-Bologna line.
- Milan-Genoa Line: Extraordinary maintenance activities on the Po Bridge are scheduled from June 3 to September 30. Specifically, a complete line interruption is planned from July 20 to August 28, with alternative solutions and extended travel times.
- Florence-Rome High-Speed/High-Capacity Line: An interruption between Chiusi Sud and Orvieto Nord from August 10-28 for maintenance work on the Fabro tunnel and the Paglia viaduct. During these activities, trains will use the conventional line, resulting in longer travel times.
- Caserta-Foggia Line: Interruptions from June 10-30 for the continuation of activities on the new Naples-Bari high-speed/high-capacity line, with alternative solutions and bus services provided.
The planning of these interventions has prioritized safeguarding major national tourist mobility routes, even during the summer period. Notably, the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian routes, Liguria, and connections to and from Puglia will remain accessible, as they are considered strategic for traveler movements during peak seasons.
Economic Impact and Future Outlook
This unprecedented level of investment by RFI, part of the FS Group, is a direct result of the PNRR’s operationalization and the accelerated pace of network enhancement and maintenance programs. These investments have had significant repercussions on the national economy and employment levels. Interventions carried out in 2025 generated an induced effect of €20.5 billion on production value and €8.6 billion on GDP, supporting 112,000 jobs across the involved supply chains.
Strategic works are progressing rapidly, with several major infrastructures completed and numerous technological upgrades implemented across the network in the last three years. Current projects focus on key European railway corridors, the development of new high-speed/high-capacity lines, and the strengthening of regional networks. This includes €25 billion in PNRR funds allocated to the FS Group, of which €18 billion had already been invested by February 2026. The Group, through its main operating companies, has successfully met all intermediate targets set by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
This extensive construction activity, combined with routine nightly interventions to ensure service continuity, represents the most significant railway transformation in recent decades. Key priorities of the infrastructural plan include the construction of new high-speed lines, aiming to increase the population served by high-speed connections by 30%. Furthermore, the plan emphasizes strengthening connections with ports, airports, and logistics terminals, digitalizing the network, and enhancing climate resilience.
Source: CasertaNews, Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI)
