Rail freight, in 2026 new drop in traffic (-4%)
President Carta: already in the budget law, urgent support measures for the sector are needed
The Italian rail freight industry is facing a critical year in 2026, according to Clemente Carta, president of Fermerci, an association representing over 80% of Italian rail freight companies. The sector is struggling with economic hardship due to factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, soaring energy costs, and disruptions to the rail network caused by 1,300 construction sites under the PNRR plan.
Fermerci is calling for coordinated support policies, citing a decline in rail freight traffic, with 49.4 million train-kilometers in 2025, down 7.8% from 2021, and a projected 47 million train-kilometers in 2026. The association has proposed a bill to revive rail freight, which aims to simplify procedures and make existing resources more effective, without imposing new financial burdens on the public.
Written by urgent.news from Il Sole 24 Ore's report — not a translation of it. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
