Trenord, the operator of Italy's regional rail services in Lombardy, has confirmed that 75 M passengers rode its trains between January and April, marking a 9% surge compared to the same period in 2025—a result achieved despite widespread infrastructure work across the network tied to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and long-term modernization plans.
Why This Matters for You
• Trains are fuller, but running on time: 84.3% punctuality across all causes of delay means most services arrive as scheduled—though expect crowding during peak hours as ridership grows.
• Holiday travel spiked 20% year-on-year, signaling stronger leisure and tourism demand on Lombardy's rail corridors.
• Summer construction is coming: Major line closures are scheduled for August and autumn, so plan ahead and check Trenord's website or download the Trenord app for real-time service updates.
The Italy rail operator attributes the ridership boost to a combination of rising commuter confidence and a 6% increase in weekend and holiday tourism traffic, with roughly 3.3 M passengers choosing trains to reach Lombardy's lakes, mountain resorts, and cross-border destinations. Approximately 27,000 travelers purchased bundled "Gite in treno" (Train Trips) packages offered by Trenord, underscoring appetite for organized rail excursions.
Punctuality Holds Steady Under Construction Pressure
Trenord reported that 84.3% of services arrived on time when all delay causes—infrastructure faults, strikes, weather, police interventions—are factored in. For context: 89.9% of trains arrived within 7 minutes of schedule, and 96.8% pulled into stations no more than 15 minutes late. That leaves fewer than 4% of services experiencing delays exceeding a quarter-hour, a threshold that typically triggers compensation claims under Italy consumer-protection rules.
The Italy rail network in Lombardy faced a demanding opening quarter, with 274,000 trains operated despite significant track closures and equipment upgrades. January saw accelerated work tied to the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics, including February completion of refurbishments at major Valtellina stations. Subsequent months brought rolling closures for safety-system installation, bridge maintenance, and signaling renewals across major corridors.
What This Means for Your Commute
For those living and working in Lombardy, the numbers translate to fuller trains but largely reliable service. Weekday ridership rose 7%, suggesting steady growth in commuter volumes as employers continue hybrid and in-office schedules. However, prepare for disruptions this summer and autumn.
Key construction projects affecting daily commuters:
• Milan–Venice high-speed line: 15-day closure between Verona and Vicenza in August; bus replacements will operate on affected routes.
• Milan–Bologna corridor: Eight-day interruption between Piacenza Est and Melegnano in mid-August; traffic will be diverted onto the conventional Milan–Bologna route.
• Milan Passante (suburban tunnel): Full closure between Rogoredo/Porta Vittoria and Certosa/Bovisa for most of August, affecting seven underground stations including Porta Garibaldi and Repubblica.
• Lecco–Bergamo line: Continuous line interruption running until December 12, 2026, with bus replacements provided.
Trenord and Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI), the state-owned infrastructure manager, have committed to deploying substitute buses and alternate rail routings to minimize inconvenience. Passengers on heavily affected lines may qualify for pro-rated compensation; check Trenord's website or app quarterly for updated eligible-route lists.
How to stay informed: Download the Trenord app, bookmark Trenord.it, or enable push notifications for service alerts on your regular routes. Service bulletins are updated weekly, and off-peak travel times typically experience fewer delays.
Infrastructure Investment and the Olympic Factor
The construction wave is driven by two priorities: readying Lombardy for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games and advancing a decade-long modernization blueprint that will increase capacity, reduce delays, and improve safety across the region. The Milan rail hub itself is undergoing a strategic overhaul coordinated by Regione Lombardia, RFI, and Ferrovienord, with planned upgrades including new bypass tracks and modernized signaling systems.
Separately, Regione Lombardia has earmarked €78 M between 2026 and 2032 to retrofit rolling stock with next-generation safety and monitoring systems and to accelerate elimination of level crossings—a known bottleneck and safety hazard.
Challenges Ahead
Despite encouraging ridership and punctuality metrics, Lombardy's rail system remains vulnerable to disruptions beyond Trenord's control. Strikes can cause widespread cancellations, and equipment failures occasionally flare up. The Milan node's complexity means a single signaling fault or track obstruction near Milano Centrale can cascade delays across the entire regional network within minutes. RFI's planned upgrades aim to reduce such propagation, but full deployment will take years.
Looking Forward
For now, Lombardy's rail passengers are navigating a transitional phase: trains are fuller, schedules are broadly reliable, but summer and autumn will bring the most intensive track closures of the year. The Olympic spotlight has accelerated investment timelines, yet the benefits—faster journeys, higher capacity, fewer breakdowns—will materialize gradually through 2027 and beyond.
Trenord's advice to travelers is straightforward: check service bulletins before departure using the Trenord website, app, or SMS alerts; allow extra time on routes with known construction; and consider off-peak travel when feasible. As Lombardy prepares to host the world in February, the region's rail backbone is being stress-tested and strengthened in real time—a process that inconveniences today's riders but promises a more resilient network for the decade ahead.
