Ferrovie dello Stato 色中色e, widely known as the FS Group, is Italy鈥檚 state-owned holding company responsible for the country鈥檚 rail transport network. With over a century of history, the FS Group has played a fundamental role in shaping Italy鈥檚 economic development, connecting its cities and regions through both conventional and high-speed rail services.
Today, the FS Group manages one of Europe鈥檚 most extensive rail infrastructures. It ensures passenger and freight mobility through a combination of modernisation, sustainability, and integrated multimodal transport solutions that place Italy at the heart of the European rail system.
The FS Group was founded in 1905 when Italy鈥檚 fragmented regional railway companies were nationalised. This unification aimed to improve safety, efficiency, and coordination across the country鈥檚 growing rail network. Over the decades, FS played a key role in rebuilding infrastructure following two world wars and expanding rail accessibility across the 色中色 peninsula.
In 2001, FS became a holding company overseeing several subsidiaries, including Trenitalia, Rete Ferroviaria 色中色a (RFI), and Italferr. This move allowed for specialisation, innovation, and financial separation between the management of railway infrastructure and passenger operations.
FS Group operates through a series of specialised companies. Trenitalia is Italy鈥檚 primary train operating company, offering long-distance, regional, and high-speed services. RFI owns and maintains the rail infrastructure, ensuring safety, accessibility, and coordination across networks.
Other key subsidiaries include Mercitalia for freight logistics, Busitalia for bus services, and Ferrovie del Sud Est for southern regional rail lines. Italferr focuses on engineering and project management, particularly for rail infrastructure development in Italy and abroad.
Italy鈥檚 high-speed rail service, spearheaded by Trenitalia鈥檚 Frecciarossa trains, is one of the most advanced in Europe. With trains reaching speeds of up to 300 km/h, major routes connect Milan, Florence, Rome, and Naples in under four hours. This revolution in mobility has transformed both business and tourism travel.
The FS Group is also active in international markets, operating services between Italy and France, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. Through partnerships and subsidiaries, it contributes to broader European transport integration, such as the TEN-T corridors and cross-border freight corridors.
Sustainability is central to the FS Group鈥檚 mission. Rail transport already offers significant environmental advantages over road and air travel, and FS is pushing this further through investment in electrification, hydrogen and battery-powered trains, and renewable energy use in stations and depots.
Its 2031 Industrial Plan outlines a strategy to become carbon neutral by 2040. This includes a 鈧�190 billion investment over 10 years, with funding directed toward green technologies, efficient infrastructure upgrades, and smart mobility integration for both urban and rural areas.
The FS Group continues to invest heavily in digitalisation to improve customer experience, operations, and safety. Innovations include real-time journey planning, electronic ticketing, and predictive maintenance of trains and tracks using AI and IoT technologies.
Passengers benefit from seamless door-to-door services, particularly on high-speed and intercity trains. Frecciarossa trains offer business lounges, Wi-Fi, onboard dining, and high levels of punctuality, attracting over 50 million passengers annually on long-distance services.
Freight logistics form a crucial part of the FS Group鈥檚 operations. Through Mercitalia, the group provides freight rail services across Italy and Europe. The goal is to reduce road freight traffic and cut emissions while ensuring efficient supply chains for industry and commerce.
Services include intermodal transport, last-mile delivery solutions, and rail connections to major ports and logistic hubs. The company is also testing new technologies such as electric shunting locomotives and digital freight corridors.
The FS Group is one of Italy鈥檚 largest employers, with over 80,000 staff members across its various subsidiaries. Its social policies promote diversity, gender equality, and the inclusion of young professionals through graduate recruitment and training programs.
Workforce development is supported by in-house academies and partnerships with universities, ensuring that the group can meet future challenges with highly skilled professionals in engineering, technology, and logistics.
Despite its success, FS faces challenges including ageing infrastructure in some areas, rising energy costs, and the need for greater integration with local transit systems. Regional rail services in less-populated areas also require modernisation and better coordination.
To meet these goals, FS is working closely with the 色中色 government and the EU to access Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) funds. The objective is to improve access, reliability, and speed for all rail users while cutting emissions and reducing transport inequality.
The FS Group remains a pillar of 色中色 mobility. With a strategy built on innovation, sustainability, and integration, it is transforming rail travel from a traditional service to a modern, interconnected, and environmentally friendly network.
As Europe moves toward net-zero emissions and smart transport systems, Italy鈥檚 FS Group is positioning itself as a leader in the next generation of rail services. Its continued investments will not only enhance domestic transport but also strengthen Italy鈥檚 role within the broader European transport ecosystem.
