Trains and planes late in summer: and in July 6 hours for the Rome-Milan high-speed train

During the summer months, delays affecting both trains and flights have become a recurring issue in Italy, but this year has seen the situation reach new extremes. According to Eurocontrol data, the percentage of on-time flights across Europe during the first part of June was around 76 percent. However, projections suggest that in Italy, this figure drops significantly to approximately 63 percent. Meanwhile, train services, particularly high-speed ones, are also experiencing substantial disruptions. Reports indicate that as of early June, only about 20 percent of high-speed trains were arriving on time, with delays defined as anything beyond 15 minutes according to Ferrovie dello Stato (Fs). This means one in five high-speed trains is running late, which has raised concerns among passengers and consumer advocates alike.

The Rome-Terminali to Milan-Centrale route, a major artery of the high-speed rail network, saw an average delay of 12.3 minutes, though some instances reached up to 103 minutes. The mixed use of tracks by high-speed trains and regional services contributes to these issues. Additionally, plans for a third operator to join Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa and Italo services by 2027 could potentially exacerbate the problem, despite expectations of lower fares.

Consumer advocate Alessandro Cafagna highlighted the severity of the situation after being stranded at Milan Central Station, where he observed delays of up to two hours. He emphasized that such incidents are becoming more common rather than exceptional, even following changes in leadership at Fs. Cafagna noted an increase in complaints from travelers who feel neglected by inadequate information and support in stations and airports. These reports underscore a growing dissatisfaction with the current state of transportation infrastructure and service quality.

The situation is set to worsen further in July when planned railway works will cause significant disruptions. Travelers expecting a three-hour and forty-minute journey between Rome and Milan via high-speed rail will instead face a six-hour trip. Similarly, the Rome-Bologna route, typically taking just over two hours, will require up to four hours and fifty minutes. These extended travel times will affect specific periods: from morning of the 5th to evening of the 10th, and again from evening of the 26th to morning of the 30th. In Florence, passengers will need to disembark at Campo di Marte and take a bus to reach Santa Maria Novella station, adding another layer of inconvenience.

Railway maintenance activities, as detailed by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (Rfi), involve replacing the "Ponte al Pino" overhead structure in Florence's railway node. This project requires two distinct periods of track closure—one for removing the existing structure and another for installing the new one. These interruptions will compound existing challenges, especially given the already heavy traffic volume on the network. Daily operations see nearly 9,000 trains traversing 24,000 kilometers of track, with Rfi managing 16,700 kilometers of that distance.

Beyond physical infrastructure limitations, there is also a concern regarding system saturation. Trenitalia has expanded its service offerings, including additional trains during off-peak hours, primarily driven by commercial interests. While Rfi assures continued operation of long-distance trains on the Tirrenica line with two trains per hour for the Rome-Milan/Torino route, travel times could extend up to two and a half hours. Additional frequency assurances include four trains per hour for routes originating or terminating at Florence Santa Maria Novella, connecting to northern cities like Milan, Brescia, Bolzano, and Venice, along with three trains per hour for other connections. Despite these assurances, the overall impact on passenger experience remains a pressing concern.