High Speed Rail Italy, Fast Trins & Routs
We think there is a certain romance about 19th-century train travel in Europe, but the benefits of modern technology in high speed rail Italy infrastructure cannot be denied. The country’s high speed trains connect Italy’s major cities, Even more routes are planned and under construction
History of High Speed Rail Italy
High speed rail Italy began its network in 1977 with the Diretesima, connecting Rome and Florence at speeds of 250 km/h. Subsequent extensions include the Rome-Milan line and the ETR 500 Mercitellia Fast, which began high speed freight service in 2018, highlighting the ongoing advancements in rail transportation.
Categories of Trains
Trenitalia, part of FSI, operates Italy’s high speed trains under the “Le Frecce” brand. Frecciarossa trains reach speeds of up to 300 km/h on dedicated tracks, while Frecciargento trains can travel up to 250 km/h on mixed lines. Frecciabianca trains run on mainline tracks with a maximum speed of 200 km/h. A simple train speed test from “Fastest Trains” with GPS on your phone can help you to determine the speed on train you are traveling on.
Rolling Stock
AGV 575
Without tilt, it can reach 360 km/h (220 mph) and has an operational speed of 300 km/h (190 mph), operated as NTV Italo.
ETR 500
Without tilting, it can reach 360 km/h (220 mph), with an operational speed of 300 km/h (190 mph), operated by Trenitalia as the Frisiarossa.
ETR 1000
The non-tilting train, operated by Trenitalia as the Frecciarossa 1000, can reach 400 km/h (250 mph) and has an operational speed of 300 km/h (190 mph) and it is included in top 15 world fastest trains.
ETR 485
The incline, with speeds of up to 250 km/h (160 mph), is operated by Trenitalia as Frekiergento. It basically works on traditional lines.
ETR 600
The incline, with speeds of up to 250 km/h (160 mph), is operated by Trenitalia as the Frisiarosa. It works on routes that include relatively short sections on conventional lines but also high speed sections.
ETR 610
The incline, at a speed of 250 km/h (160 mph), is operated by Trenitalia on Eurocity trains between Italy and Switzerland with Girona trainsets.
ETR 675
Uninclined, operated by NTV as Italo and part of high speed rail Italy.
ETR 700
Non-inclined, 250 km/h (160 mph) speed, operated by Trenitalia as Frecciarossa on most routes consisting of segments on both conventional and high speed lines.
Currently, Italy high speed trains are limited to a maximum speed of 300 km/h (190 mph) due to track restrictions of high speed rail Italy, despite plans to increase speeds to 360 km/h (220 mph) and they are working on initial plans. The ETR 1000, developed by AnsaldoBreda and Bombardier Transportation, was designed to operate at these high speeds. And can technically reach speeds in excess of 400 km/h (250 mph) and it introduced a new race in the industry of bullet train Italy.
However, the necessary infrastructure upgrades by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana are still ongoing to increase the capability of high speed rail Italy. In May 2018, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transportation, together with the National Association for Railway Safety, decided not to carry out the speed tests required to run at 350 km/h (220 mph). As a result, plans for high speed services were cancelled, keeping the commercial speed limit at 300 km/h (190 mph). The decision has limited the capacity of the ETR 1000 and halted further efforts to increase operational speeds of trains in high speed rail Italy infrastructure.
Not just in Italy or Europe the Italian Rail companies and infrastructure is impressing most of the countries to improve their rail network. Even in European Union many countries connects with each other through railway like high speed railway Italy connects with high speed rail Switzerland, high speed rail Germany, high speed rail France, high speed rail Austria and other parts of the Europe like high speed rail Sweden. After successfully upgrading high speed rail Italy, the Italian Companies like FS International Railways offered its services to improve the high speed rail in United States. Italy is also eager to play role in the development of various countries in the world like Canada railway, India railway with the network of express trains in India and other regional and international areas.
TGV trains also operate on the Paris-Turin-Milan service but do not use any high speed rail in Italy.
Italy High Speed Train Map & Network
Milan to Salerno Corridor
Milan to Salerno is the main north-south corridor of the high speed network.
The Milan–Bologna segment opened on 13 December 2008. Its construction cost was about 6.9 billion euros. The 182 km (113 mi) line runs parallel to the Autostrada del Sol, crossing seven provinces and 32 municipalities. There are eight links with historical lines.
A new station designed by Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava was opened in June 2013 at the Reggio Emilia Interconnection. Calatrava also designed a signature bridge where the line crosses the A1 motorway. The line passes through a new multi-level station at Bologna (Italy’s principal railway junction) designed by Japanese architect Arata Isuzaki and it helped a lot as bullet trains Japan are worlds fastest.
Bologna–Florence Segment
The Bologna–Florence segment opened on 12 December 2009, allowing a 37-minute journey between the two cities. The Bologna-Florence high speed rail Italy was particularly complex to construct as almost 93% of its 78.5 km (48.8 mi) runs through tunnels under the Apennine mountain range.
The line consists of nine tunnels, ranging from 600 meters (0.37 mi) to 18.5 km (11.5 mi) long., which are separated by a short surface segment (less than 5 km (3.1 mi) in total). Florence will have a major new multi level high speed station at Belfiore designed by British architect Norman Foster.
The Florence–Rome segment
The Florence–Rome segment consists of the old “Direttissima” (literally: straightest) line between the two cities, with a length of 240 km (150 mi). The first railway line for high speed trains in Europe, the “Direttissima”, was completed between 1977 and 1992. Rete Ferroviaria Italiana is upgrading this section. Entering Rome, high speed trains have the option of stopping at the new intermodal station of Taburtina, designed by architects ABD Associates led by Paolo Desideri or Termini station.
Train from Florence to Naples Italy Section
The Rome to Naples section runs south from the Italian capital. Service on the first new high speed segment of the project began in December 2005, It connects with Florence- Rome segment for the route of train from Florence to Naples Italy. The line passes through 61 municipalities in two regions (Lazio and Campania) and connects to the existing national rail network at Frosinone Nord, Casino Sud and Caserta Nord.
On 13 December 2009, work was completed on the last 18 kilometres (11 mi) of the line between Gricignano and Napoli Centrale. In the Campania region, the line passes through Afragola where a large new transfer station has been built, designed by Iraqi-born architect Zaha Hadid.
Turin to Trieste Corridor
The Turin to Navarre segment of the Turin to Trieste Corridor runs for 85 km (53 mi) and was opened in February 2006. The Novara to Milan segment opened on 12 December 2009, allowing a 59-minute journey between Milan Centrale and Turin Porta Nova. 45 minutes from Milan Porta Garibaldi to Turin Porta Susa). Combined, the two sections are 125 km (78 mi) long, of which 80% (98 km [61 mi]) are in the Piemonte region (provinces of Turin, Vercelli and Novara) and 20% which is 27 km (17 mi).
In the region of Lombardy (province of Milan). To reduce its environmental impact on the region, almost the entire length of the Turin to Milan high speed line was built parallel to the A4 Turin-Milan motorway.
The Milan to Venice section includes the section from Padua to Mestre (for Venice), which has been in service since March 2007, and the Milan to Brescia section, which runs along the A35 motorway and opened for service on 11 December 2016. The new high speed line between Brescia and Verona will parallel the A4 motorway for 30 km (19 mi) of its 48 km (30 mi) total length, and a 7.4 km (4.6 miles) tunnel will be constructed.
This part was to be completed in 2023. The final 75 km (47 mi) section between Verona and Padua will be built by quadrupling the existing railway. The contract for this was awarded in August 2020 and will be completed by 2027. The section between Verona and Vicenza is to be built first.
Lines Under Construction
The Turin to Navarre segment of the Turin to Trieste Corridor runs for 85 km (53 mi) and was opened in February 2006. The Novara to Milan segment opened on 12 December 2009, allowing a 59-minute journey between Milan Centrale and Turin Porta Nova. 45 minutes from Milan Porta Garibaldi to Turin Porta Susa. Combined, the two sections are 125 km (78 mi) long, of which 80% (98 km [61 mi]) are in the Piemonte region (provinces of Turin, Vercelli and Novara) and 20% (27 km [17 mi]). in the region of Lombardy (province of Milan). To reduce its environmental impact on the region, almost the entire length of the Turin to Milan high speed line was built parallel to the A4 Turin-Milan motorway.
Milan–Venice
High speed trains from Milan to Venice still have to use the traditional line between Brescia and Padua. The remaining section from Brescia to Padua is under construction at a cost of €9.82 billion, while the rest of the line is already in operation. The line is built at a speed of 250 km/h (160 mph). The section between Brescia and Verona will be completed in 2026, while construction on the section between Verona and Padua will be completed in 2029, including a 7.7 km (4.8 mi) tunnel between Lonato del Garda and Desenzano del Garda.
Naples–Bari
Construction of the Naples to Bari line began in 2015 and will cut the journey from Naples to Bari from four to two hours. Totalling €6.2 billion for the entire project, the final €2.1 billion needed to complete the project was approved in 2019. The line is expected to be completed by 2027.
Palermo–Catania
Palermo and Catania, Sicily’s largest cities, are currently connected by a single-track railway which limits the speed and capacity of the line. Work is currently underway to achieve a high speed and double track layout, with the first section of 38 km (24 mi) under construction between Bicocca and Catenanuova. It will enable a top speed of 200 km/h (124 mph) compared to the current 90 km/h (56 mph).
Construction began in 2019 at a cost of €415 million. Work on both tracks is expected to be completed in 2023. Ultimately, further improvements will enable a maximum speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) on the line as part of the overall €8 billion project. Upgrading the line will cut journey times between Palermo and Catania by one hour and 45 minutes in 2025, saving one hour.
Turin–Lyon
The Turin-Lyon line will connect Turin, Lyon and Chambray and join the Italian and French high speed rail Italy networks. It will take over the role of the existing Fréjus railway. The project cost €26 billion, with the Mont d’Ambon base tunnel, a 57.5 km (35.7 mi) transalpine tunnel between Italy and France, costing €18.3 billion. Although the project was highly controversial, the Italian Senate approved funding in mid-2019, with the project tentatively scheduled for completion in 2032.
Milan–Genoa
A line from Milan to Genoa was approved in 2006 for €6.2 billion. Construction started in 2011. Work between Genoa and Tortona was temporarily halted due to funding issues but resumed in 2019 and is now expected to be completed by 2026.
Verona–Innsbruck
The Brenner Base Tunnel will connect Verona, Innsbruck and Munich and thus connect the Italian, Austrian and German railways. The tunnel is the most important link in a series of projects that will create a single connection from Berlin in Germany to Palermo in Sicily as part of the Trans-European Transport Networks. The tunnel crosses the border between Innsbruck in Austria and Franzensfest in Italy.
The total cost of the tunnel is estimated at 8.4 billion euros, of which 40% is contributed equally by Italy and Austria and 50% by the European Union. As of 2020, half of the tunnel’s length has been excavated and is scheduled to open in 2032.
A new high speed railway line between Verona and Forza has been built on the Italian side and is about 180 km (110 mi) long. The line will have a design speed of 200–250 km/h (120–160 mph) and will quadruple the existing two tracks of the existing low-speed line. It is budgeted at around 5 billion euros and is expected to be completed by the end of work on the Brenner Base Tunnel.
Salerno–Reggio Calabria
A line from Salerno to Reggio Calabria is currently in the planning stage. It is expected to be operational by 2030. The new line will be 445 km (277 mi) long and will cost 22.8 billion euros. It will cut the journey time from Rome to Reggio Calabria to three hours and forty minutes. This compares with the current rail journey time of five hours between Salerno and Reggio Calabria, excluding the section between Rome and Salerno.
The project is divided into seven functional lots
Conclusion
High speed rail Italy network demonstrates significant technological progress, connecting major cities and reducing travel times. With iconic trains like the ETR 1000 and an extensive infrastructure, Italy has embraced modern rail travel while retaining the romantic charm of the old systems. Construction continued, despite restrictions on maximum speed due to track restrictions And future projects – such as the Salerno-Reggio Calabria line – promise even greater efficiency and expanded connections across the country and Europe. As Italy continues to invest in high speed rail Italy, it consolidates its position as a major player in European rail transport.