Woman gives birth on a Bologna bus, with passengers and the driver helping

The birth on line 39

On Friday, 30 October 2026, shortly after 9 in via Saffi, a woman went into labour aboard an urban line 39 bus in Bologna. The public transport operator Tper said the mother did not reach a hospital in time, so the delivery took place on the bus among other passengers. Several female passengers stayed close to her during the birth, and the bus driver, a woman, took charge of the situation until help arrived. Reports say mother and baby are doing well after the delivery.

Help on board and the call for paramedics

Passengers called the 118 emergency number as soon as the birth began. Paramedics reached the bus, which had stopped in via Saffi, and took over the care of mother and child. Before they arrived, the driver used her own clothing to keep the newborn warm. Other passengers offered their personal belongings for the same purpose. Paramedics then took mother and baby to hospital for the usual checks and first examinations.

Tper's praise for the driver

Tper used a statement to praise the driver's conduct on the bus. The company said she managed the situation with composure while waiting for the medical team.

“for managing an unusual and equally delicate event until the paramedics arrived”

The operator's note was the main public account of the incident. Tper also congratulated the mother and the baby, who had begun his life journey on one of the company's buses.

“The baby has started his journey of life on our buses.”

A similar case in Ferrara province

The company noted that giving birth before reaching hospital is not unheard of. A similar birth happened on a bus in Vigarano Mainarda, in the province of Ferrara. In that case, a woman travelling with her husband to a routine hospital check-up began having more frequent contractions. The driver understood what was happening, stopped the bus and asked all other passengers to get off.