Freight rail transport in Italy is receiving tangible support. Rete Ferroviaria Italiana has announced the early introduction, now set for 2025, of the new access tariff system for infrastructure, initially planned for the 2026–2029 period. This move translates into a significant reduction in the average fee for freight trains—around 80 cents per kilometre—and is expected to generate an economic impact of twenty million euros already in the second half of 2025. The measure has been welcomed by industry operators and trade associations, particularly Fermerci, which described it as “a concrete and necessary signal” for a sector facing major challenges.
The tariff system for accessing the Italian railway network is based on five-year regulatory periods governed by the Transport Regulation Authority. The relevant legislation—most notably Resolution No. 95/2023—requires the application of criteria proportionate to costs directly linked to the provision of rail services, in line with European Directive 34/2012. Rfi has set the unit direct cost for the base year 2023 at 0.88 euros per kilometre, calculated on a total cost of 333 million euros and a regulatory volume of 376 million train-kilometres.
The tariff approval process has followed a complex path. After an initial proposal submitted by Rfi in September 2023 for the 2024–2028 period, several critical issues were highlighted in Resolution No. 187/2023. These concerns were then taken up again in Resolution No. 38/2024, which laid the groundwork for a revised proposal from Rfi. The turning point came with Resolution No. 165/2024 on 20 November, which redefined the tariff period, setting 2023 as the base year, 2024 as a transition year and 2025–2029 as the new regulatory framework.
Thanks to the early application of the system, from 1 July 2025, freight trains will benefit from a 33% reduction in average access fees. In a context marked by significant network disruptions due to infrastructure investments under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, this measure offers concrete relief for industry operators. The decision meets the requests put forward by Fercargo in September 2024 during the MercinTreno event, and later supported by Fermerci, including during the presentation of its 2025 annual report.
The measure comes at a difficult time for freight rail transport in Italy. In addition to the construction sites linked to the National Recovery Plan, which have a considerable negative impact on network availability, operators are having to deal with constantly shifting economic and logistical dynamics. In this scenario, lowering infrastructure access costs represents not only an economic incentive but also support for the sector’s competitiveness and resilience.
Meanwhile, Fercargo continues its work on multiple fronts: adapting the freight regulation framework, securing funding for onboard Ertms systems, simplifying operations through single-agent trains, developing heavy freight services and improving coordination of construction projects. At the European level, Italian associations are actively cooperating with Erfa and Confetra to create a competitive single European railway area, promoting the adoption of a common language for train drivers, digitisation and more efficient capacity regulation.
