High-frequency inter-city services on Italy’s strategic Bologna–Milan conventional line were suspended at 07:30 on 26 June 2026 after unauthorised persons were spotted near the tracks close to Castelfranco Emilia. Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) halted traffic for safety inspections, triggering knock-on delays across the national network. By 08:30 trains were moving again but with residual delays of up to 60 minutes; a further update at 09:30 cut the backlog to 70 minutes for certain regional services, with some cancellations and short-terminations still in place. The incident did not directly affect the parallel high-speed AV line, yet Trenitalia warned that crew-rotation constraints could spill over into Frecciarossa timetables through the afternoon. For corporate mobility managers the episode underscores the vulnerability of the country’s busiest rail artery, which links Italy’s main manufacturing regions and feeds cross-border services to Switzerland, France and Germany. Companies moving time-critical cargo by rail freight were advised to anticipate late-evening deliveries. RFI reiterated its zero-tolerance policy on track trespass and said additional surveillance drones would patrol the corridor during summer weekends when accidental incursions historically rise. The operator is also piloting geofenced alerts to warn oncoming drivers in real time, a technology that could eventually interface with EU-wide rail traffic management systems. Passengers holding affected tickets can claim refunds or rebook under Trenitalia’s ‘Viaggia Sereno’ policy. Those with onward flights from Milan were offered free transfer to the next available AV service, subject to seat availability. As of press time, normal timetables were expected to resume before the evening rush.
