From tolls to the railway network, up to passenger protection: the The Transport Regulator's Annual Report to Parliament 2026 It lists some of the most sensitive issues for the sector. The president presented them to the Senate. Nicola Zacchaeus, which identified intergenerational equity as one of the challenges of regulation: infrastructure, services and investments must in fact combine sustainability, accessibility and the interests of future generations.
Railways: The network is under increasing pressure
It is above all on the rail network capacity which focuses on one of the most delicate matches. Rome-Florence direct lineIt is already heavily used, and the arrival of new operators risks further increasing pressure on the most congested routes. For this reason, ART has indicated the need to evaluate new infrastructure projects, including the possible upgrading of a section of the Direttissima.
In parallel, the Authority is rewriting the rules for therailway capacity allocation, intervening on the relationship between that planned through multi-year framework agreements and that to be assigned annually. The reform is still ongoing and should be completed by the end of 2026, so as to be incorporated into the next Network Information Prospectus. In the background there is also the dispute with the Antitrust on the assignment of new paths to an operator: ART claims its competence on the capacity of the network, especially when the infrastructure is already saturated.
The greater opening of the market also concerns the Intercity services. The tender for the 2028-2042 period will be the first national competitive process for these connections and could pave the way for the entry of new operators. Zaccheo indicated a possible gradual opening, with the possibility of splitting the award into a larger and a smaller lot.
Highways, tolls follow service
On the motorway front, meanwhile, it has already been operational since June 2026.the automatic toll refund system for the inconvenience caused by traffic blocks or planned construction sites. The principle is that of pay per useCompensation increases based on the delay and the route traveled, with a uniform system across the network and a single application for managing requests.
Until November 30th, separate requests are required for trips that cross routes managed by different concessionaires; starting in December, a single request will be possible. This measure is part of a broader concession reform, which strengthened the powers of the ART over economic-financial plans and the relationship between investments, capital remuneration and tariffs.
However, the tariff system still needs to be defined. Bridge over the Strait of MessinaThe Authority believes the current plan is adequate for the project's phase, but the tariff can only be assessed once actual costs, traffic volumes, road and rail components, and complementary investments are more clearly defined. Hence the request for continuous monitoring of the economic and financial sustainability and risk distribution.
Over 7 million euros returned to users
Passenger protection represents the other major front of Art's activity. In three years, 58.556 dispute resolution requests have been handled, with Over 7 million euros in refunds awarded to usersThe procedures cover air, rail, sea, bus, and highway transport.
The Authority is also experimenting with theartificial intelligence in the management of complaints and on 22 September presented smartbot, a tool based on generative AI. Other measures include the revision of rail passenger rights, new rules for local public transport, and enhanced protections for people with disabilities at bus stations. Regarding taxis, the Council of State also confirmed the role of the ART in providing opinions to municipalities intending to increase licensing.
The generational perspective also enters into the same regulatory activityWith the Generational Impact Assessment (GIA), introduced by Law 167/2025, ART is experimenting with extending its analysis to the effects of decisions on future generations. The goal is to assess not only the economic and environmental impacts of regulations, but also their impact on accessibility to services and the ability to fully participate in economic and social life.
