Basilicata restores Potenza-Melfi rail connection

The Basilicata region is preparing to reopen the Potenza-Melfi railway connection, which has been closed since August 2025 due to structural issues with the Tiera viaduct. To facilitate this reopening, Trenitalia will transfer diesel rolling stock from the Taranto depot to Potenza via the electrified Taranto-Potenza line.

Pasquale Pepe, Vice President and Councilor for Infrastructure and Transport of the Basilicata Region, stated that the regional railway fleet has been significantly modernized. He clarified that the use of diesel trains on the Taranto-Potenza route is a logistical necessity to reach the non-electrified Potenza-Foggia line and does not signal a reversal of the regional program to deploy new electric Pop trains. The new electric fleet will continue to operate on the Taranto-Potenza-Salerno-Napoli route.