In recent months, the theme of railway delays in Italy has returned to the center of public debate, with particular attention to Trenitalia’s high-speed services. A recent report edited by Silvja Manzi of Europa Radicale, entitled “Altra Velocita – All the numbers of Trenitalia’s collapse”, highlighted worrying data regarding the punctuality of Frecciarossa, Frecciargento and Frecciabianca trains.
The analysis focuses on the period between October and December 2024, during which 22,865 trains were monitored, with an average of approximately 260 trips per day. According to the dossier, 72% of Frecciarossa and Frecciabianca trains experienced delayswhile the percentage it rises to 79% for Frecciargento. In total, the minutes of delay accumulated in the quarter correspond to six and a half months of overall delays.
Particularly critical is the situation of Bari-Rome route, where no train arrived on time during the analyzed period. Other lines, such as the Reggio Calabria-Milan Centrale, also highlighted serious problems, with an average delay of 46 minutes and a maximum peak of 468 minutes on 30 November. Furthermore, travelers using long-distance Frecce trains between Southern and Northern Italy are often victims of significant delays.
The most problematic day is Friday
The report also analyzed the most problematic days of the week and time slots. The Friday the day with the highest number of delays is confirmed, followed by Wednesday and Thursday. The most critical hours are late morning, between 10am and 1.30pm, and in the evening, between 7pm and 10pm, with average delays ranging between 9 and 18 minutes.
From an economic point of view, the dossier estimates that Trenitalia could have to face reimbursements of over 102 million euros per year due to delays. Refund options, which range from 25% to 50% of the ticket cost depending on the length of the delay, represent a significant impact for the company.
Despite Trenitalia’s reassurances, which states that over 94.9% of delays are not attributable to the company, the report highlights a structural problem which requires significant interventions. The need for an overall rethink of the offer and organization of the service now appears unavoidable to guarantee a real improvement in railway performance.
