Over 5 billion euros in 10 years planned by RFI (FS Group) for the redevelopment of railway stations, increasingly considered true hubs of urban mobility. More than 600 stations are already involved in this process that aims to make the railway stations points of connection of the city. A transformation process that sees them at the center of the new urban mobility.
The numbers of the Italian stations
In 2023, the number of travellers passing through railway stations is increased by 19% compared to the previous yearfor a total of 1.35 billion travellers. An almost pre-pandemic level, given that in 2019 the their number stood at 1.43 billion. Even the main stations, such as Milano Centrale, Roma Termini and Napoli Centrale, recorded the same increase compared to 2022.
RFI’s plan for Italian stations
The FS Group company aims to redevelop more than 600 stations, with an investment of over 5 billion euros and interventions to be gradually implemented for the station buildings, some of which are of notable historical/artistic importance, and the improvement of theaccessibility.
To date, in fact, they are 274 stations have been made accessible by people with reduced mobility. Among the planned interventions are the creation of ramps and tactile walkways, the installation of elevators and the raising of the sidewalks to a height of 55 centimeters to facilitate access to trains. A constant dialogue with the associations of people with disabilities It also allowed us to extend the coverage of the assistance service for travellers with reduced mobility, currently available in over 330 stations. The circuit, in fact, is constantly expanding.
The plan also aims to make stations increasingly more attractive places sustainablepromoting interventions with innovative and energy-saving materials. In the new vision of the station, an important role is played by forecourts adjacent to the railway stations, where more and more green areas will find space.
RFI is also the main implementing body of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan which by 2026 includes restyling interventions and improvements in accessibility in 38 stations in the center southwith an investment of 345 million euros.
Nine stations in the cities of the Central Italy hit by earthquake of 2016 and 10 stations of the locations that will host the Winter Olympics Milan-Cortina 2026. Seven stations in Rome are also involved in the RFI Station Plan, in view of the Jubilee of 2025.
Focus on the main stations involved
Among the main interventions implemented by RFI is that of Venice Mestrewith a total value of 100 million euros. Here, with the involvement of FS Sistemi Urbani, the aim will be to make the station more modern, functional and accessible. The tender will start soon for a project that will involve a new track crossing, the improvement of passenger transport with an intermodal perspective and better accessibility, through an inclusive design without architectural barriers.
As for the station BergamoRFI has awarded the tender for the executive design and construction of the works to upgrade the station, which will become a hub for urban reconnection and sustainable mobility. The contract, worth over 100 million euros, provides for the activation of a first functional phase of the new station by 2026.
In August, the tender worth approximately 143 million euros for the executive design and construction of the new Hub of the Bari Central Stationfor urban reconnection and sustainable mobility which includes a new urban park and the renovation of the external areas.
Always in the south, in Palermo with an investment of over 20 million euros, it is planned, also with the involvement of FS Sistemi Urbani, to redevelop and make fully accessible the Central station; green spaces and benches have already been created, while work continues on the architectural and fresco restoration and on a modern lighting project. Accessibility work is also underway, with work already underway on the first sidewalk, and it is planned to gradually adapt all the platforms and shelters. The project also included the redevelopment of the area of the former first track, connecting it via a pedestrian path with the adjacent interchange area with parking and buses.
In Calabria interventions underway in the stations of Lamezia Terme Centrale, Vibo Valentia Pizzo, Scalea S. Domenica Talao.