On the morning of 20 August 2025 a freight train ran into the back of a regional service on the Brenner line near Trento. The accident occurred around 8.30 am in the Roncafort district, close to the Caduti di Nassiriya overpass and near the Trento freight terminal. According to an initial reconstruction by Rfi, several freight wagons, part of a train of about forty carriages with a total estimated weight of 600 tonnes, appear to have moved on their own from the Trento interport before colliding with regional service 16666 bound for Bolzano, which was standing at a red signal.
The impact caused one passenger carriage to derail, though without serious consequences for those on board. The dynamics of the crash remain under investigation. While early reports suggested that some wagons had detached, it later emerged that they were still coupled to two locomotives, a factor that complicates the reconstruction of events. Between 35 and 45 people were travelling on the regional train. Three suffered slight bruises: one woman was taken to Santa Chiara hospital for checks, while the other two sought medical attention independently. No serious injuries were reported among passengers or railway staff. Unhurt travellers were able to continue their journeys on replacement buses arranged immediately after the incident.
The repercussions on the Brenner route were significant. Traffic was suspended between Trento and Mezzocorona, completely blocking connections south of Bolzano. Rfi introduced a replacement bus service, but disruptions extended to long-distance routes. The high-speed Fr 9721 Bolzano to Milan was among the cancellations, while other regional and fast services faced restrictions and severe delays. Traffic between Bolzano, the Brenner and Merano was not directly affected. Meanwhile, technical teams began clearing the damaged trains and securing the tracks.
Railway police, working with Rfi technicians, have launched an inquiry to establish the causes and responsibilities. Investigators are focusing in particular on shunting procedures at the Trento interport and on the safety systems that should have prevented the unauthorised movement of the freight train. They are also examining signalling systems and radio communications between the operators involved.
The Brenner line has for months been undergoing maintenance and upgrade works, which have already led to scheduled interruptions. Within this framework, the Trento interport functions as an intermodal hub for shifting freight from road to rail, helping to ease pressure on the Brenner motorway and promote more sustainable transport. Yet the complexity of manoeuvring operations and the heavy traffic demand increasingly stringent safety standards.
