Studies and Research

The FS Research Centre develops studies and scientific research by providing processing, analyses and models that use socio-economic, territorial, environmental and transport market data.

The main areas of research can be divided into 4 macro-clusters: forecasting models for mobility demand, analysis of socio-economic and environmental impacts of transport systems, Big Data and Data Science, Climate Change Modelling. The FS Group shares the main results of its studies and research through the publication of monographs, papers and articles.

Technical Papers are monographic publications with scientific content, which explore issues related to the transport and mobility sector, from the point of view of the technical, environmental, economic, planning and modelling, taking into account the Interaction with innovative technologies.

Technology and mobility: the FS Group contribution to the High‑Tech Economy

4 March 2026 - Technology and mobility: what new opportunities arise when mobility meets the most advanced technologies?

A concrete answer emerged at Luiss Guido Carli University, where the event presenting the 2026 Strategic Report “High Tech Economy” took place. The report, organized by the Franco Fontana Strategic Change Research Center and the Digital Economy Center (CED), was recently presented at the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The event brought together key figures from industry and institutions to discuss the new global competitive cycle driven by technological innovation.

Among the invited speakers was Mario Tartaglia, Head of the FS Research Centre at the FS Group, who shared the perspective of a company that has made innovation one of its defining traits for nearly two centuries.

In his speech, he traced the historical role of technology in the Italian Railways, highlighting how the railway, since its inception nearly 200 years ago, has been one of the most powerful symbols of progress in transportation: from the expansion of national networks to high-speed rail, and up to the development and adoption of ERTMS, the European Railway Signaling System, which was born thanks in large part to Italian expertise.

Tartaglia explained, the high‑tech economy is being shaped by digitalisation, artificial intelligence, new materials and energy technologies, all within an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape. The FS Group plays an active role in this context through:

• High‑speed lines, which integrate advanced technologies to manage trains travelling at very high speeds with traffic densities close to network capacity;
• The 2025–2029 Strategic Plan, which focuses on advanced connectivity, innovative fleets, technological safety, integrated digital mobility and energy production;
• Research projects developed within major national and international hubs, from the MOST National Centre for Sustainable Mobility (with initiatives on autonomous vehicles, intelligent maintenance, battery‑powered trains and climate resilience) to the European programme Europe’s Rail (dedicated to digital twins, automation and interoperability), and the Group’s participation in the World Congress of Railway Research, the leading global platform for technological developments and the future of rail transport.

The FS Group thus positions itself as an enabler of innovation across the entire value chain, not merely as a mobility operator.

Tartaglia highlighted how the Italian context presents both significant potential and important challenges: a high level of scientific output, but still limited patenting capacity, modest investment in research and development, and ongoing brain drain. In this scenario, the FS Group confirms its concrete commitment to technological investment and to recruiting and developing highly skilled professionals, thereby contributing to the nation’s growth and to the global competitiveness of the railway sector.

The SIWI as a tool for designing better stations

11 September 2025 - How can we determine whether a railway station is truly accessible, safe, and well integrated into its surrounding urban environment?

This is the question at the core of a study conducted by Mario Tartaglia and Stefano Pellecchia, Head and member of the FS Research Centre of the FS Group, together with Serena Martini, Chiara Ravagnan, Arturo Becchetti and Assunta Errico from FS Engineering.

To address this question, the team developed the SIWI (Sustainable Intermodal Walkability Index), an index that measures how easy, safe and high-quality it is to access a station from an urban and environmental perspective.

The SIWI has been designed to support planners and public decision-makers in the development of railway infrastructure. This tool makes it possible to assess both existing stations and areas where new ones may be built, identifying strengths and areas for improvement to create more sustainable and accessible spaces.

The index examines several factors that shape the experience of station users, going beyond the technical design of the infrastructure. The method also considers how well the station is integrated into the urban context and into local mobility systems, such as public transport services, bike lanes, taxi stands, bike-sharing stations and pedestrian routes.

• To build the SIWI, a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) was defined and grouped into six main areas:
• Node accessibility: Intermodality of rail transport with public transport, taxis, shared mobility, and bicycles
• Place accessibility: Population density, Activity density, Service density
• Social safety: Station safety, Access safety
• Road safety: Safety of crossings, Safety of routes
• Inclusive design: Inclusive usability of stations, Inclusive accessibility of stations
• Environmental quality and comfort: Shading and climatic comfort

The development of the index stems from the work carried out by FS Engineering, which in recent years has focused on sustainability within railway design processes. The goal is to move beyond a purely technical approach and promote a more integrated vision that links infrastructure, mobility, and local territory.

The research draws on international academic studies on walkability as well as on the technical expertise of FS Engineering and the FS Research Centre. The final outcome will be a design guideline aimed at improving project quality and fostering coordination among all stakeholders involved: local authorities, mobility operators and designers. This approach supports more informed, integrated and sustainable planning of railway stations.

An innovative digital platform for urban mobility

September 2025 - How can research contribute to building a smarter and more sustainable urban mobility ecosystem?

Driven by this question, Mario Tartaglia, Head of the FS Research Centre of the FS Group, together with Stefano Pellecchia, Andrea Fiduccia, and Luca Beccastrini also from the FS Research Centre, presented the paper “FS Group Projects for the National Centre for Sustainable Mobility (MOST)” at the 15th International CTV Congress (City and Virtual Territory).

Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Group is committed to creating an ecosystem of sustainable mobility and integrated logistics, supported by interconnected and resilient infrastructures. Particular attention is devoted to the development of a data platform for transportation data, models, and analytics. The project, developed by the FS Research Centre in collaboration with the University of Rome La Sapienza, is based on the existing Strategic Information Management System (SIMS) of the FS Group, a geospatial data platform designed for the analysis and modelling of mobility and its interaction with social, economic, territorial, and environmental systems.

The goal of this project is to extend the functionalities and application scope of the SIMS platform to the urban domain, providing public administrations with data and decision-support tools for mobility policies and the evaluation of interventions.

An approach to identifying people trips and stops for mobility analysis using mobile network data

25 September 2025 - What do mobile network data really tell us about people’s movements? How can we better interpret trips and stops? The widespread use of connected devices, such as smartphones and vehicle on-board systems, has made available a growing amount of data automatically generated by users. In this context, mobile network data, i.e. information derived from interactions between mobile phones and the mobile network infrastructure, are emerging as a strategic resource for mobility studies.

The FS Research Centre, in collaboration with Motion Analytica, Fastweb and Vodafone proposed a study on this topic, presenting it during the Final Conference of the MNO-MINDS Project promoted by Eurostat “Integrating MNO Data into Official Statistics: challenges and innovations” held at the OECD Auditorium "La Muette" in Paris.

The study begins with a methodological reflection: although mobile data allow for detailed, up-to-date, and large-scale spatiotemporal reconstructions, they were not specifically designed for tracking movements. Raw data do not allow us to distinguish between stationarity and movement, nor do they provide information about the mode or purpose of travel. Therefore, there is a need to apply complex algorithms: data cleaning, trajectory segmentation, transport mode inference, sample expansion techniques and anonymization in accordance with privacy regulations. 

Evaluating High-Speed Rail in the Long Term: Limits and Solutions of Cost–Benefit Analysis

10 September 2025 - How can the long-term socio-economic impacts of Italian High-Speed Rail be accurately assessed, and how should the Social Discount Rate be adjusted for phased, multi-decade projects?

This is the central question addressed in a study conducted by Mario Tartaglia, Head of the FS Research Centre of the FS Group, together with Giulia Costagli, Enrico Cieri, Antonio Angelino, Francesca Martire, and Laura De Felici from the RFI Group. 

The study shows that policymakers should adopt multi-decade assessments, apply the Global Project perspective, an integrated assessment framework that considers the infrastructure in its fully completed configuration. This approach incorporates the synergies among different project components, the interoperability of subsystems, and the overall performance of the line once fully operational. Furthermore, the study highlights the necessity of adjusting the Social Discount Rate (SDR), the parameter used to discount future costs and benefits, so that infrastructure investments reflect their true long-term value.

The Italian High-Speed Rail (HSR) network is integrated with the conventional rail system, allowing new lines to be opened progressively in functional sections. While this phased approach optimizes resources and enables early transport benefits, building HSR lines requires substantial public investment, and design, construction, and operational timelines often span decades. Traditional Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA), typically limited to a 50-year horizon, may underestimate long-term socio-economic benefits. 

This study examines how to evaluate HSR projects over extended periods, focusing on the Milano - Venezia corridor as a case study. It highlights the importance of adopting a Global Project approach, assessing entire lines rather than individual sections, to capture infrastructure synergies and the full scope of socio-economic impacts. Using a long-term socio-economic framework, the study shows that Italy’s current constant Social Discount Rate (SDR) of 3%, based on 2013 calculations, no longer reflects contemporary economic and social dynamics. A reduced SDR is proposed to better account for delayed benefits and guide resource-efficient decision-making. 

The study was presented at the 5th International Symposium on High-Speed Rail Socioeconomic Impacts, organized by the UIC (International Union of Railways), held online on 9–10 September 2025. The event brings together experts each year to discuss the economic and social impacts of investments in high-speed rail systems. 

High-Speed Rail as a Catalyst for High-Quality Urban Development

10 September 2025 - How do high-speed rail (HSR) stations influence urban development and socio-economic dynamics? What planning strategies can maximize their benefits? With the aim of enriching the literature on the topic, Michele Cerullo, Chiara Chinzari, Eugenio Pasqua, Gianfranco Pignatone, Mara Radicioni and Sarah Ravà of RFI, together with Mario Tartaglia, head of the FS Research Centre of the FS Group, conducted a study demonstrating the strong strategic role of high-speed rail stations within the urban landscape.

Such stations connect cities to regional and international networks while simultaneously influencing accessibility, land use, and socio-economic dynamics. Urban and transport planning has consequently evolved toward people-centered strategies that emphasize quality of life, social equity, and sustainability.

This study applies a spatio-temporal analysis to explore the relationship between HSR stations and urban development dynamics over time. Using two Italian case studies - Reggio Emilia AV Mediopadana and Rho Fiera - the authors conducted an ex-post assessment to examine how accessibility, land use, and socio-economic factors evolve around major transport nodes.

The regional economic impact of High-speed rail in Italy

10 September 2025 - What are the immediate economic and employment effects generated by spending on a High-Speed Rail investment? How are they distributed across regions? This is the question at the heart of the study conducted by Mario Tartaglia and Ilaria Lopresti, respectively Head and member of the FS Research Centre of the FS Group, together with Renato Paniccià and Leonardo Piccini, researchers at IRPET.

The study found that investment in high-speed rail infrastructure generates immediate economic effects, especially during the construction phase. Northern Italy plays a key role both in retaining effects when it hosts the investment and in receiving indirect benefits when the project is carried out in the South. The proposed model is designed to support ex‑ante evaluation, useful for justifying public funding and planning strategic investments.

The Impact of High-Speed Rail on the Short-Term Rental Market

10 September 2025 – How does access to high-speed rail (HSR) affect prices and bookings for short-term rental apartments in Italian cities?

This is the central question addressed by a study conducted by Mario Tartaglia and Sara Nourbakhsh, respectively Head and Researcher at the FS Research Centre of the FS Group, together with Juan Ignacio Fulponi, Geospatial Data Scientist.

The study examines the impact of high-speed rail (HSR) on the short-term rental market in Italian cities, with a particular focus on Airbnb data. The results show that HSR does not lead to higher nightly rates but does increase demand, resulting in more bookings and, consequently, more reviews. Users show growing interest in apartments located within the catchment area of HSR stations, highlighting accessibility as a key factor for travelers. The evidence also shows that user demand begins to increase about one year after train services are expanded at a station, after which this effect gradually fades.

The analysis uses Airbnb data from 2010 to 2025, linked to the nearest HSR stations, and applies an innovative approach that combines econometric tools and machine learning techniques. The model is based on two components: fixed effects that remain constant over time, such as the intrinsic quality of a listing or the specific characteristics of a city, and a difference-in-differences approach. This methodology, widely used in microeconometrics, is employed to estimate the causal effect of a “treatment”, in this case, the expansion of high-speed rail services, on a group of subjects (namely Airbnb listings located near HSR stations), relative to a second group not exposed to the treatment (consisting of listings located farther away from stations and therefore not directly influenced by HSR). The two groups are observed over two periods, before and after the increase in HSR services. In addition, a sentiment analysis of guest reviews was conducted to assess perceptions of proximity to stations, making it possible to measure not only the economic impact but also travelers’ experiences and preferences.

Beyond the station: the impact of first and last mile on perceived accessibility in high-speed rail travel

10 September 2025 - How does accessibility change for a high-speed rail traveler when considering travel times to reach the station and, from the arrival station, to the final destination? Mario Tartaglia, head of the FS Research Centre of the FS Group, Martina Farsi, also part of the FS Research Centre, and Emanuela Montenegro from the University of Bari Aldo Moro, conducted a study to quantify this change in the Italian context for one of the main users of high-speed rail: professionals working in knowledge-intensive sectors such as finance,  ICT, innovation and research, including universities. The study was presented at the 5th International Symposium on High-Speed Rail Socioeconomic Impacts, promoted by UIC Alliance of Universities.

High Speed Rail and Territorial Cohesion along the design process. From requirements to assessment framework and digital tools

10 September 2025 - How can territorial impact assessment and other evaluation frameworks be coordinated in the railway design process, especially in strategic high-speed projects? Fostered by this research demand, Italferr, together with the FS Research Centre, is carrying out a study aimed at defining Guidelines for the territorial impact assessment of railways, with the valuable contribution of Rete Ferroviaria Italiana. The aim is to maximize the impact of infrastructure in terms of territorial cohesion, in line with national and international references such as the Sustainable Development Goals, BES Indicators (Equitable and Sustainable Well-being), and Wider Economic Impacts. The ongoing study was presented at the 5th International Symposium on High-Speed Rail Socioeconomic Impacts promoted by UIC Alliance of Universities.

Competition in High-Speed Rail and Its Socio‑Economic Effects: A Comparative Analysis of Italy, France, and Spain

9 September 2025 - How does open‑access competition on high‑speed rail (HSR) networks influence social, economic, and environmental outcomes?

Driven by this research question, Mario Tartaglia, Head of the FS Research Centre of the FS Group, and Ernesto Razzano, lawyer at the Transport Regulation Authority, conducted a study aimed at analysing how open‑access competition on high‑speed rail networks affects social and economic outcomes, including service quality, accessibility, fares, overall demand, and the potential for reducing CO₂ emissions.

Findings show that open-access competition in Italy has produced significant benefits, including improved service variety, lower prices, higher accessibility, and increased demand; however, an effective regulation is essential to maintain fair competition.

Groupware Planning Support Tools. The SIMS Approach

September 2025 - How can large organizations centralize models and data to ensure consistency and collaborative decision-making? The FS Research Centre developed a framework within SIMS (Strategic Information Monitoring System) to centralize planning models in a collaborative environment, ensuring consistent data, algorithm control, and shared outputs. Integrated into SIMS are an Economic Impact Assessment model and a multimodal mobility simulation model, supporting FSI Holding and FS Group strategic decisions. Early results confirm SIMS as an effective enterprise-wide decision support platform. Next steps focus on expanding SIMS, improving accuracy, and fostering collaborative, data-driven decisions.

Driving next generations into future mobility

04 March 2025 - What are the mobility habits of the new generations? What are their needs and preferences in terms of mobility? These questions were answered by Mario Tartaglia, head of the FS Group's FS Research Centre, during his speech at the Mobius Lab Conference 2025 'Driving Next Generations into Future Mobility'. During his presentation, Mario Tartaglia analysed the attitudes and needs of the new generations in terms of mobility, such as a greater focus on sustainability, a propensity for intermodality and the emergence of new patterns such as 'Bleisure' trips that combine work and leisure. In conclusion, the path that innovation and research must follow to drive new behaviour, leading towards new, more innovative and sustainable mobility solutions, was illustrated. MobiUS is the Smart & Sustainable Mobility Lab of the SDA Bocconi School of Management the mission of which is to accompany companies and institutions in their transformation towards new mobility ecosystems, developing and sharing innovative knowledge on smart and sustainable mobility for the users of the future.

Evidence from a quasi natural experiment: Reggio Emilia Mediopadana

11 September 2024 - Does the introduction of a high-speed rail station significantly impact local real estate markets, and if so, how? This study explores the effects of the Reggio Emilia Mediopadana High Speed Railway Station on property values using a quasi-natural experiment framework. By employing a Difference in Differences (DiD) approach, the research analyzes how the improved accessibility and connectivity provided by the station influence residential property prices in the surrounding areas. The findings reveal that the impact is most pronounced in civil properties located 20-30 kilometers from the station, highlighting the spatially varied benefits of transport infrastructure investments and offering valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers.

Can Megalopolis be shaped by HSR System?

11 September 2024 - Starting from the definition of Megalopolis  in the sense of "polycentric human development", in which cities exist as separate entities but also as extended functional systems connected by transport infrastructures and flows of people, the analysis aims to deepen the links between some Italian realities, Milan – Turin (MITO), and Rome – Naples (RONA),which because of their characteristics are candidate to be defined as Megalopolis, and HSR services operating between these cities since more than ten years.

The study, which constitutes a first step in the phenomenon analysis, highlights a similar behavior of the two Italian realities in the period 2009-2019; HSR journeys are positively and significantly influenced  by population, employees, local units and gross domestic product per capita as well as by the number of HS services per day.

Mapping the potential territorial impact of railways

11 settembre 2024 - How and how much can HSR contribute to reducing the current imbalances between regions and to strengthening the territorial efficiency, identity and quality?At the 4th International Workshop on High Speed Rail Socio-Economic Impacts, the FS Research Centre and the Italferr Sustainability Unit presented new insights on the sensitivity of the regions, within the study aimed at defining the Guidelines for the territorial impact assessment of railway infrastructures.

Relationship between real estate prices and High-Speed railway services in Italy

11 September 2024 - Is there any relationship between High-Speed Rail Railway services and real estate prices in Italy? At the ‘4th International Workshop on High-Speed Rail Socioeconomic Impacts’ the FS Research Centre of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane presented a preliminary study aimed at investigating a relationship between High Speed Railway services and residential real estate market price. The analysis focuses on some cities along the main Italian HSR corridor. The study was developed in collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Turin and the University of Naples Federico II.

Flood Susceptibility Assessment for Improving the Resilience Capacity of Railway Infrastructure Networks

11 September 2024 - What topographical, environmental and hydrological factors influence the risk of flooding, in areas where railway infrastructure is present? This is the topic analysed in the scientific article 'Flood Susceptibility Assessment for Improving the Resilience Capacity of Railway Infrastructure Networks', published in Water, whose authors include Mario Tartaglia, Head of the FS Group Research Centre, and Andrea Fiduccia, Head of Decision Support Models. The study identifies the different factors (slope, altitude, precipitation, land use and soil covering, distance from rivers, geology, topographic moisture index, and drainage density) that affect the safety of railway infrastructure, and uses multi-criteria analysis (MCA) to generate flood susceptibility maps within a geographic information system (GIS).

High-Speed Rail and Students’ Mobility

11 September 2024 - Can high-speed trains affect the educational choices of university students in Italy? This study was presented at the 4^th International Workshop on High-Speed Rail Socio-Economic Impacts, and is the result of a collaboration between FS Research Centre - guided by Mario Tartaglia with Ilaria Lopresti - and Bank of Italy's economists. The analysis uses MUR (Ministry of University and Research) micro-data to reveal that universities located in provinces reached by the AV service benefited from a significant increase in out-of-town student enrolment in the following years, compared to provinces not served by the AV. These results, although preliminary, pave the way for further investigation of a topic of scientific interest that has been little explored in literature".

10th ITF Statistics Meeting

11 and 12 April 2024 - Held in Paris, the 10th "ITF Statistics Meeting" brought together statisticians and transport experts from around the world at the OECD, to discuss the latest developments in data analysis and statistics, work on common standards and understand how to innovate the mobility sector by exploiting new data sources. All member countries belonging to the ITF - International Transport Forum were represented at the annual meeting of the Statistics Working Group. Italy's representatives, nominated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were Mario Tartaglia, Head of the FS Group's FS Research Centre, and Giovanna Astori, Technologist, DIPS/Direzione Centrale Statistiche Ambientali e Territoriali - Istat. Mario Tartaglia and Giovanna Astori participated as lecturers to the session 'Challenges and Innovation in Transport Data Collection and Measurement', by presenting the study 'Methodological Aspects for Passenger Mobility Analysis using Big Data'.

Asita Academy 2023. Actual and expected roles of geomatics within the next generation eu framework: from science to public services

18 December 2023 - How can the resilience of railways against extreme hydro-meteorological events be improved? This question was answered by the study “Towards a spatial decision support system for hydrogeological risk mitigation in the railway sector”, carried out by FS Research Centre of Ferrovie dello Stato Group, RFI and Parthenope University of Naples. The study was presented at the Asita Academy 2023, highlighting how the use of a spatial decision support system (SDSS) integrated with GIS functionality and predictive models is able to facilitate strategic decision-making for the adaptation of the railway network to hydrogeological risk.