Rome–Florence high-speed rail line to close for works on 11–12 April 2026

Rail traffic on Italy’s main high-speed line between Rome and Florence will be suspended for part of the weekend of 11–12 April 2026 to allow the activation of a new European train control system. The disruption will also affect services on Monday 13 April, when fewer trains than usual are expected to run.

The interruption is required to activate the ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System) on the section between Orvieto and Settebagni, the last stretch of the Rome–Florence high-speed corridor still to be equipped with the technology. Once completed, the entire Italian high-speed network will operate with the European system designed to supervise and manage train movements.

According to the infrastructure manager Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI), the high-speed line will be closed from midnight on Saturday 11 April until 3 p.m. on Sunday 12 April. During this period, high-speed services operated by Frecciarossa and Italo will not be able to use the Rome–Florence route.

The works will also affect the conventional railway line between the two cities. The section between Orte and Rome Tiburtina will be closed from 2 p.m. on Saturday 11 April until 5 a.m. on Sunday 12 April.

Because both the high-speed and conventional routes will be partially unavailable, rail companies expect a significant reduction in connections during the works, with some services rerouted along alternative lines, including the Tyrrhenian coastal corridor.

Reduced services and longer travel times

Train services will gradually resume from 3 p.m. on Sunday 12 April, but with fewer trains and longer travel times, as many services will temporarily use conventional lines instead of the high-speed route.

Rail operators are updating their booking systems, and only trains compatible with the temporary timetable will be available for purchase.

The railway service between Rome and Florence is expected to return to normal frequency on Tuesday 14 April.

Investment and network upgrade

The installation of the ERTMS system on this final section of the line required an investment of about €147 million, partly financed through Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).

ERTMS is the most advanced European signalling and supervision system for railways. By replacing older signalling technologies, it allows more precise control of train movements, improves infrastructure reliability and contributes to better punctuality and service quality.

The upgrade is part of a wider national programme to equip around 2,800 kilometres of railway lines with ERTMS technology by June 2026, extending the system across Italy’s rail network.

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