Commuter chaos amid the Winter Olympics.
Italian authorities are investigating what they suspect is an act of deliberate sabotage that paralysed the nation’s high-speed rail backbone on Saturday.
The incident, which centred on critical signalling infrastructure between Rome and Florence, triggered widespread delays and forced thousands of passengers and Olympic spectators into a weekend of travel chaos.
Burnt cables and strategic disruptions
The disruption began early Saturday morning when technicians from Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) detected anomalies in the signal-control systems.
Upon inspection, investigators discovered burnt electrical cables in a manhole near Capena and Gallese, a strategic bottleneck on the high-speed line (AV) heading north from the capital.
A simultaneous act of arson was reported on the high-speed corridor between Rome and Naples near Salone and Labico, suggesting a coordinated effort to sever the transport links connecting Italy’s three largest cities.
Fast trains, including the flagship Frecciarossa and Italo services, were forced to operate at significantly reduced speeds or divert to slower, conventional tracks.
Passengers reported wait times of 90 to 140 minutes at major hubs including Roma Termini and Florence Santa Maria Novella.
Pattern of “Olympic sabotage”
This latest incident follows a series of similar attacks that have plagued the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics since they began on 6 February.
Last Saturday, an anarchist group claimed responsibility for severing fiber-optic cables near Bologna, which caused delays of up to 150 minutes on the opening day of the Games.
Transport minister Matteo Salvini condemned the Saturday attacks in a scathing statement, labeling them “hateful criminal acts” intended to damage Italy’s international image during the Olympic showcase.
“I hope no one plays down or tries to justify these crimes which put lives at risk,” Salvini said, drawing direct parallels to the coordinated arson attacks that hit the French TGV network during the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Investigation
Italy’s anti-terrorism unit, DIGOS, and the Railway Police (Polfer) are currently analysing surveillance footage and forensic evidence from the scene.
While no group has officially claimed responsibility for this weekend’s disruptions, investigators are focusing on extremist anarchist circles who have voiced opposition to the “capitalist showcase” of the Olympics and the increased surveillance accompanying the Games.
As of early Sunday morning, rail services have largely returned to their regular schedules, though RFI has placed technical teams on high alert at “sensitive nodes” across the country to prevent further interference during the final week of the Games.
Photo credit: AANegoro / Shutterstock.com.
