Italy ramps up railway funding as summer heat challenges punctuality

The Italian government announced a record‑high investment programme for the national rail network as temperatures rise in the summer months. The programme, a contract between the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI), totals about €124 billion, recently boosted by an additional €4.3 billion for modernisation, technology and network capacity.

Deputy Minister Tullio Ferrante said the funds, together with €26 billion from the national recovery plan (PNRR), show that rail transport is a strategic infrastructure for the country's growth. He stressed that punctuality remains a key quality indicator, noting the current 63 % on‑time performance is unsatisfactory for commuters and business travellers.

Parliamentarians such as Fabrizio Benzoni and Luigi Pagliuca highlighted the need to address congestion at major hubs like Milan Central, Rome Termini, Bologna and Florence, and to improve reliability as heat‑related delays increase.