2019 Ambrosetti Report: a roadmap for a more connected, inclusive and modern country

5 lines of intervention on regional rail transport

16th September 2019

Every year, 800 million people—or 90% of the rail system passengers—travel on Italian regional trains. Investing in regional rail transport is an opportunity for the Italian Regions and for the country. It is a strategy for developing a modern, homogeneous and efficient regional rail transport system that the FS Italiane Group is already implementing with the 2019-2023 Industrial Plan.

The study completed by The European House - Ambrosetti in collaboration with Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane outlines a strategy for the development of regional rail transport in Italy; a roadmap that focuses on the person and their needs.

There are five lines of action in which the roadmap is articulated, with the necessary priorities for action:

5 LINES OF INTERVENTION OBJECTIVES
1. Stability in the medium- to long-term of public financial resources and the introduction of new forms of service coverage 
  • Increase state investment in regional rail services (upping funding from Service Contracts).
  • Adopt custom tariff systems (for differing types of passengers and occasions for utilisation).
  • Evolve multimodal integrated tariff systems for rail/road transport services on urban and extra-urban connections.
2. Regulatory operations in support of intermodality in urban and extra-urban connections
  • Exploit the aggregating role of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs).
  • Plan collective transport around regional transport with integrated modality.
3. Measures to support modal shifts from individual to collective transport and particularly from road to rail 
  • Launch policies to facilitate citizens’ intermodal choices (for example, by building railway stations equipped with micromobility services or electric vehicle charging points).
  • Promote the sharing of information on collective mobility (to ensure efficient service monitoring and planning).
4. The evolution of railway stations for a new “Urban Renaissance
  • Reconnect the urban fabric through the station as an intermodal and social hub for cities (attracting business establishments and business centres).

5. Regional rail mobility as a driver of development for the national tourism system

  • Complete the integration of the railway network with international nodes (such as airports and ports).
  • Render the planning of collective mobility flexible.
  • Enhance “minor” tourist destinations.