Ancona, 23 November 2025
A regional train departing from Ancona and headed south deviated inside the Vallemiano tunnel following a strong earthquake, stopping about 200 metres from the tunnel entrance. The driver and some travellers were injured.
This was the scenario of the civil defence service drill that took place during the night between Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 November on the Bologna - Lecce railway line. In addition to the FS Group companies, the drill was also attended by the Ancona UTG Prefecture as the planning and coordinating body, the Ancona Provincial Fire Brigade, the Railway Police Department for Marche, Umbria and Abruzzo, the Ancona Police Headquarters, the Ancona Comando Provinciale Carabinieri, the Ancona Comando Provinciale Guardia di Finanza, the Ancona Municipality, the Ancona 118 Service, the Italian Red Cross, the NUE 112, the Regione Marche Civil Defence Service.
The Centro Coordinamento Soccorsi (CCS) at the Prefecture and the Centro Operativo Comunale (COC) at the Municipality of Ancona were activated to manage the emergency.
Particular attention was paid to verifying the effectiveness and speed of activation of emergency management procedures.
This drill, which is part of FS Italiane Group's Annual Drills Plan, aimed at verifying the communication flows and the coordination system between the different Bodies, as well as the familiarisation with the railway infrastructure, in particular with regard to the methods and timing of access and intervention for rescue purposes inside the tunnel. All carried out to improve safety standards and the protection of people, property and the environment.
The common objective was to test the emergency and rescue plan in force issued by the Macerata Prefecture, and to field-test the technical intervention and assistance system envisaged by the memoranda of understanding drawn up between the FS Group, NUE 112, the Health Emergency Service and the Regional Civil Defence Service. The drill was preceded by a training session for civil defence service volunteers and other participants.