FS Italiane has announced that the ERTMS system on the Rome–Florence high-speed line will be activated in April.
To enable the system’s activation, FS Italiane will suspend night-time traffic between 11 and 12 April. The works will specifically affect the Orvieto–Settebagni section, the final stretch of the Rome–Florence high-speed line to be equipped with ERTMS technology, thus completing the upgrade of the entire high-speed network to the European Rail Traffic Management System.
With a total investment of approximately €147 million, partly funded through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), the project forms part of a broader programme of technological and infrastructure modernisation led by infrastructure manager RFI – Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, part of the FS Group. During the works, both the high-speed and conventional Rome–Florence lines will be unavailable to train services.
A significant reduction in services is expected, with alternative travel options available along the Tyrrhenian line. Train services will resume from 15:00 on Sunday the 12th, initially with reduced frequencies and longer journey times for services using the conventional line, which serves as an alternative to the high-speed route. Connections will be available through railway operators’ sales channels. High-speed, Intercity and regional trains will return to normal service from Tuesday the 14th.
Ticketing systems are currently being updated, and only services reflecting the revised timetables will be available for purchase.
ERTMS in Italy
Technological modernisation, including the deployment of ERTMS, will enhance infrastructure reliability, leading to improved service regularity and quality.
In addition to higher performance, the system also enables lower management and maintenance costs compared to traditional signalling systems. The project forms part of a 2,800 km programme funded with €2.5 billion from PNRR resources, scheduled for completion by June 2026, in line with the strategic objective of extending this technology across the entire network managed by RFI.
Italy was an early investor in ERTMS. The system has played a key role in increasing the rail sector’s market share in the country, and the completion of the high-speed network is expected to deliver even greater economic and social benefits.
Since the early 2000s, Italy has invested heavily in high-speed lines, with the first ERTMS-equipped routes entering service in 2005. RFI has launched an accelerated plan to roll out the digital system across the entire national railway network by 2036, representing a total investment of €15 billion.
According to RFI’s plans, ERTMS will be installed on 2,023 km of lines during 2025–2026, and by the end of this year, 16,700 km of Italy’s railway network will be equipped with the system.
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