The project includes the upgrading (thanks to the doubling of the entire line) and speeding-up of the Naples-Bari route, which will integrate the southern railway infrastructure with the “Scandinavian - Mediterranean” Core Corridor.
The main objective is to speed up the current connection and improve access to the service in the areas it passes through, for both long-distance national services and regional and freight services.
Once the works have been completed, the Naples-Bari connection will take just 2 hours compared to the current 4, while the Rome-Bari connection will take 3 hours, saving 1 hour 30 minutes compared to today.
The project is a major driver for the creation of jobs. Over 7,000 people are involved in the project, including engineers, technicians and manual workers.
With effect from 12 March 2026, the date on which Decree-Law No. 36 (published in the Official Gazette No. 58 of 11 March 2026) came into force, in accordance with Article 5 of that decree, the Chief Executive Officer of RFI SpA has taken over from the previously appointed Extraordinary Commissioners.
The placement of the Naples–Bari line into administration has made it possible to speed up the various stages required to complete the project, with shorter authorisation and handover processes, thereby reducing costs and completion times. In addition, a dedicated task force has been set up to monitor the progress of the projects and examine any issues that may arise, with a view to resolving them in accordance with the timelines and budgets set out in the Commissioner’s plan.
The Naples-Bari project is fully funded, including through NRRP funds.
