Florence rail works restart, disrupting Genoa-Rome corridor

Train passengers across Italy have been warned to expect cancellations and delays this week as a second round of maintenance work at Florence's central station gets underway, according to The Local Italy. The works, which restarted on Monday, are expected to severely disrupt north-south rail traffic for the duration of the project.

The disruption hits the Tyrrhenian corridor hardest, a line that links Genoa and the Ligurian coast with Rome and the south. For the port of Genoa — Italy’s largest by cargo volume — the delays add further strain on freight schedules already tested by summer heat and peak tourist flows.

The Local Italy reports that the new maintenance phase follows an earlier round in July that already caused significant delays. The station, a major junction for high-speed and regional trains, requires structural upgrades that force authorities to cut through traffic. Passengers have been advised to allow extra travel time or seek alternative routes.

For Liguria, the consequences extend beyond passenger inconvenience. The port of Genoa relies on rail connections to move containers between the quay and the Po Valley industrial hinterland. Any interruption on the Florence node creates a bottleneck that can ripple through supply chains. The region's tourism sector, heavily dependent on summer rail access to the Riviera resorts, also faces uncertainty as holidaymakers may reconsider travel plans due to the disruptions.

The Italian government has not commented on how long the second round of works will last, but rail operator reports cited by The Local Italy indicate that the measures are scheduled to continue into early August, overlapping with the peak holiday exodus. Local authorities in Liguria have not issued specific advisories for the region, but travel agents in Genoa report an increase in inquiries about bus connections and private car alternatives.