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Successive Faults Cripple Italy’s High‑Speed Lines, Causing Widespread Delays

Two separate infrastructure failures exposed weak protection of trackside systems, forced reroutes that cut capacity, prompted refunds and triggered political demands for answers.

Overview

  • A fault in the electrical line between Milano Rogoredo and Piacenza on Wednesday halted high‑speed traffic on the Milano–Bologna corridor after a nearby roadside vegetation fire required firefighter intervention.
  • The June 17 disruption caused dozens of cancellations and long delays with some trains held for up to about five hours as AV services were diverted onto slower conventional lines.
  • RFI technicians reactivated one of the two high‑speed tracks by mid‑afternoon on Wednesday and Trenitalia issued full ticket refunds while full repairs continued.
  • A separate incident on Thursday was blamed on damaged or stolen cables near Tora e Piccilli on the Rome–Naples line, forcing reroutes via the Formia conventional line and delays up to 90 minutes before gradual recovery.
  • Officials and politicians have opened inquiries and demanded reports as the back‑to‑back failures highlight security and maintenance gaps that could worsen congestion during the summer travel peak.