Milan-Bologna high-speed rail gradually reopens after electrical fault caused five-hour delays and a trackside fire

Electrical fault and suspension

On Wednesday morning, at approximately 10:20, the high-speed rail line between Milan Rogoredo and Piacenza was suspended after an electrical fault was detected. Technicians from Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (Rfi) began immediate inspections and repair work. The suspension halted all high-speed, Intercity, and regional trains along the critical Milan-Bologna corridor, one of Italy's busiest rail routes.

On-board conditions and trackside fire

Two high-speed trains were stranded in the Lodigiano area without air conditioning as temperatures rose. Firefighters were called to Livraga, where the electrical problem sparked a brush fire along the tracks. The flames were contained and extinguished using two tankers and two forest fire modules, according to fire service reports. A 44-year-old female passenger received on-site medical assistance but did not require hospitalisation. One of the stranded trains was eventually returned to Rogoredo and the other to Piacenza.

Delays and cancellations

Trenitalia's passenger information service stated that some high-speed services had been rerouted onto the conventional line, warning of journey extensions of up to two hours and potential cancellations. In practice, at least six trains were cancelled outright and around 20 others were directly affected with much longer travel times. The worst affected service, an Italo train from Naples to Milan, arrived at its destination roughly five hours late. Bologna Centrale became a pinch point, with dozens of trains delayed by more than an hour and many passengers left waiting for updates on their disrupted journeys. The effects rippled along the high-speed network, disrupting schedules as far south as the Rome-Naples line.

Some high-speed trains have been rerouted onto the conventional line and may experience extended travel times of up to 120 minutes and cancellations.

Gradual resumption

By mid-afternoon, Rfi's repair work began to yield results. At 4:20 p.m., the company announced a gradual reopening of the southbound track between Melegnano and Piacenza, allowing train traffic to slowly recover. Repair work on the second track continued, with the goal of restoring full capacity as soon as possible. Trenitalia also confirmed full ticket refunds for affected passengers.

From 4:20 p.m., rail traffic on the Milan-Bologna high-speed line is gradually resuming on the southbound track between Melegnano and Piacenza, after the suspension this morning due to damage to the electrical line.