High-Speed Train Chaos: Bologna-Milan Route Faces Delays of Up to 3 Hours
April 7, 2025 — Travelers on Italy’s high-speed rail network encountered major disruptions Monday morning as delays of up to three hours plagued the busy Bologna-to-Milan route. The chaos, centered between Livraga in Lodi province and Piacenza, stemmed from technical issues requiring urgent line inspections, according to Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI), the state-owned railway operator.
The trouble began shortly after midnight when circulation was halted on a stretch of the Milan-Bologna high-speed line—a key artery connecting Italy’s industrial north. RFI reported that “technical checks” were underway, but no clear timeline for resolution emerged by early Monday. Posts on X captured passenger frustration, with one user lamenting a train stuck for an hour before Piacenza, followed by an unscheduled stop and a wait for a delayed Intercity replacement—potentially stretching a routine 65-minute trip into a 4-5 hour ordeal.
Trenitalia, which operates the flagship Frecciarossa trains alongside Italo’s competing high-speed service, confirmed that Freccia trains were facing delays of up to 180 minutes. Some services were rerouted via conventional tracks, slowing journeys further, while others were canceled outright. Italo trains, also affected, adjusted schedules with departure and arrival changes reflected in real-time booking systems. RFI’s statement to La Repubblica noted the suspension between Livraga and Piacenza as the epicenter, with ripple effects hitting the broader Milan-Bologna corridor.
This isn’t the line’s first hiccup. Opened in 2008 at a cost of €6.9 billion, the 214-kilometer route—designed for speeds up to 300 km/h—has faced maintenance woes before, including a week-long closure last August between Castelfranco nell’Emilia and Fidenza that tacked on up to 60 minutes per trip. Monday’s disruption, however, stands out for its severity and timing, snarling rush-hour travel between two economic powerhouses.
Passengers voiced exasperation online, with some pointing fingers at Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, whose tenure has coincided with a string of rail headaches. “High-speed trains, delays up to 3 hours—another splendid day under Salvini,” one X post quipped. RFI and Trenitalia urged travelers to check updates via their apps or websites, offering refunds or rebooking options for those affected.
As technicians raced to restore service, the incident underscored the fragility of Italy’s vaunted high-speed network—lauded for slashing Milan-Bologna travel to just over an hour—when technical gremlins strike. With no immediate fix announced, Monday’s commuters braced for a long haul, caught between Italy’s promise of alta velocità and the reality of standstill.
