Chieti officials debate recovery of Via Verde railway stations

Political tensions have escalated in Abruzzo regarding the recovery and repurposing of former railway stations along the Via Verde della Costa dei Trabocchi. Regional councilor Nicola Campitelli of Fratelli d’Italia has criticized Chieti Provincial President Francesco Menna, alleging mismanagement and claiming that funds intended for the acquisition of these stations have remained unused for a decade.

In response, Francesco Menna and Arturo Scopino have defended the provincial administration's actions. They clarified that the formal process for acquiring the properties—located in San Vito Chietino, Fossacesia, Torino di Sangro, and Vasto—only began following a memorandum of understanding signed between the Abruzzo Region and the Province of Chieti on December 7, 2023. They noted that the expropriation decree was issued on May 19, 2026, meaning the process has taken two and a half years rather than the ten years alleged by regional leadership.

The planned redevelopment, approved under the Special Territorial Project of the Costa dei Trabocchi, intends to convert the stations into tourist information points, hospitality and sports centers, dining areas, and markets to promote sustainable mobility and local tourism.