The right to mobility must be guaranteed to all citizens. The social sustainability of infrastructures must respect communities and propose solutions to problems, promoting integration and a sense of belonging.

FS Italiane has put the needs of people with reduced mobility at the center of our attention for several years. In order to ensure their right to get around easily, a network of "Sale Blu" have been set up in stations run by RFI and, to improve accessibility everywhere and ensure that technical and organisational responses are increasingly adapted to their needs, we also hold regular meetings and discussions with the associations representing them.

Stations are true city hubs, as they are often situated in the centre of cities, allowing passengers to take advantage of the commercial services, such as catering services, shopping centres, waiting rooms, infopoints, automatic ticket machines, etc...

The goal of the Hub Station project is to redefine, in partnership with institutions, the role of train stations in the country, making them a hub for services and intermodal transport, while the Easy Station and Smart Station projects consist of redesigning the physical and digital infrastructure inside the station to make it more functional and attractive. 

The works are intended to meet the requirements of PRM TSI - “Technical specifications for interoperability relating to accessibility for persons with reduced mobility” (EU Regulation 2014/1300), in line with existing restrictions (structural, architectural, logistical, use) as well as meeting current national requirements for removing architectural barriers.

The Sala Blu halls are the reference and organisation centres for travelling people with disabilities and reduced mobility. They provide useful information for using the service in the best way possible: timetables and reservation methods; availability of wheelchairs for assistance to/from the train; welcome and assistance at the station; assistance to get to the train or to the exit; assistance with trolleys and platform ramps for boarding and leaving the trains; and a free luggage carrier service (1 piece of luggage).

Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, in compliance with EU Regulation 2021/782 (former EC Regulation 1371/2007) on "passengers' rights and obligations in rail transport", has activated the Sala Blu service for people with disabilities and reduced mobility. The number of services provided in over 360 stations belonging to the service circuit managed by the 16 Sala Blu halls is constantly expanding.

Since 2011 - when the activities carried out on RFI's behalf began - the services provided free of charge in the railway stations belonging to the Sala Blu network have more than doubled, from 150,000 to around 400,000 in 2023.

Sala Blu assistance services at railway stations can also be booked online, for an easier, time-saving experience. Active on Rete Ferroviaria Italiana's website, the Sala Blu online system allows guests to book assistance services for people with disabilities and reduced mobility via the web, with at least 24 hours' notice.

100% of Freccia trains have equipped areas for transporting people with reduced mobility or wheelchairs. The Frecciarossa1000 lets wheelchair users move independently from the disabled-access carriage three to the restaurant carriage. 95.7% of Intercity day trains are equipped for wheelchair users, including toilets. Regarding regional trains, 67% of the fleet has an area with wheelchair access and 60% also have disabled access toilet facilities.

All new regional trains under construction by Hitachi Rail Italy and Alstom, in delivery from 2019, comply with the latest European regulations on this subject, and therefore have all seats and bathrooms suitable for wheelchair users and offer a series of technical arrangements to improve accessibility, offering particular attention to passengers with other types of disability (for example, visual and hearing). The medium and long distance Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, Frecciabianca and Intercity trains are equipped with a carriage with two wheelchair places plus 2 companion seats in each carriage. The carriages are marked on the outside by a special international symbol.

The space for wheelchair users has a large travel area with a range of accessories (coffee table, railing, call button, etc.) and is located near equipped toilets. Trenitalia's staff is trained to provide maximum assistance on-board for reduced mobility or disabled people. During the trip, Trenitalia staff contact the customer to confirm that the train personnel are aware of their presence, and assist them in accessing the services inside the train convoy.

Busitalia mainly deals with bus passengers, as well as other modes of transport. Since 2017, Busitalia has entered the long-haul travel sector with the Busitalia Fast service, dedicated to those who choose to travel long distances with the convenience and safety of a coach, with a high quality, innovative service that pays special attention to the customer experience of passengers with reduced mobility (PRM) and other disabilities.

Busitalia fleets are equipped with comfortable seats and improved accessibility tools for passengers with reduced mobility or disabilities on urban buses, such as a door opening/closing signal and voice announcements using speakers positioned throughout the bus; a large (+15% large than category standard) and bright destination board; and a number of support points on board the bus (railing for getting on the bus, handles, continuous horizontal and anatomical upper railing, vertical grips).

In addition, a wheelchair place is located in the center of the bus on the driver's side, in front of the exit doors; there are 2 more non-equipped places on the opposite side, where wheelchair chairs and strollers are always allowed; in the front of the vehicle, near the entrance, there are 4 seats reserved for passengers with reduced motor capacity.