It came into operation on new direct Frecciarossa train from Lecce to Bari and Naples, the high-speed connection operated by Trenitalia (Italian FS Group), which connects Salento to Campania without changes thanks to the activation of the Variant Gate, a strategic infrastructure of the new Naples–Bari High Speed/High Capacity line.
The new service represents a first operational step in the progressive completion of the Naples-Bari high-speed/high-capacity line, intended to structurally reduce travel times between the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian seas and to strengthen the connection between the main urban areas of Southern Italy.
Campania–Puglia: travel times, stops, and route of the new Frecciarossa
The new Frecciarossa allows you to travel between Bari and Naples in about 3 and a half hours e tra Lecce and Naples in about 5 hours, thanks also to the new Naples–Cancello route, which contributes to making access to the Naples high-speed hub more direct and fluid.
Along the route the train makes stops a Lecce, Brindisi, Bari Central, Barletta, Foggia, Benevento e Naples Afragola, thus strengthening the rail link between Puglia and Campania and significantly improving accessibility to the main cities of Southern Italy. The service, in fact, integrates seven provincial capitals and creates a direct connection along the Adriatic coast to the Naples high-speed hub, making travel more seamless and simple.
Naples–Cancello bypass and integration of the high-speed line and the regional network
A central role is played by the new Naples–Cancello variant, with the activation of a double-track section of over 15 kilometers, significantly improving the network's capacity and flexibility. This project allows for more effective integration between high-speed rail, regional lines, and the future metro network, strengthening the connection between the different levels of rail service.
In this context, the new Acerra station, while Naples Afragola further consolidates its role as a strategic hub for high-speed rail for Southern Italy, thanks to new access points and increasingly efficient interchange systems which strengthen its function as a central hub for national mobility.
Naples–Bari High-Speed/High-Carbon Line: 55 kilometers already operational, bringing benefits to mobility.
With the activation of the new batch, The number of high-speed/high-capacity lines already in operation rises to 55 kilometres along the Naples–BariThe overall project aims to generate structural benefits for mobility in Southern Italy, by jointly improving travel times, service regularity, and accessibility of the areas served.
The investment on the Naples-Cancello section is approximately 1,1 billion euros and is part of the broader plan to complete the Naples-Bari section. by 2029.
Comments
"This new connection will allow you to reach Naples from Bari in about three and a half hours. This is the first phase of the work, gradually reducing travel times between the two cities. Trenitalia will be ready with its Frecciarossa trains thanks to an increasingly broad and diversified range of services in parallel with the upcoming infrastructure activations," stated Trenitalia's High Speed Director. Simone Gorini.
“Shortening the distance between Bari and Naples does not only mean reducing travel times, but strengthening a strategic axis of the South, connecting two large metropolitan areas and creating new opportunities for development, work and investment – Mayor of Bari, Vito Leccese "We still need time to truly close the gap between Naples and Bari, but this represents a first step in the right direction. It's a decisive step toward a closer, more competitive, and more cohesive South. And the presence of Naples Mayor and President Anni Gaetano Manfredi confirms this alliance, which supports development, growth, and new opportunities for the regions, and in which we must continue to invest with continuity and vision."
“The direct connection with Naples, with a modern Frecciarossa, brings Lecce closer to the South and the rest of Italy – commented the mayor of Lecce, Adriana Poli Bortone I'm certain that the new service will have immediate positive impacts on tourism and the provincial economy, bringing new development opportunities and accelerating the growth we all hope for. After the announcement of the so-called redevelopment of the train station, another piece of good news for Salento arrives this summer.
"This new train will have a major impact on the development of Southern Italy, of which the Naples-Bari axis is a key route. It reduces the infrastructure gap with the North and creates further growth opportunities for a Southern Italy that is already experiencing significant growth in many respects. Finally, the new train will provide new prospects for inland areas," stated the mayor of Naples. Gaetano Manfredi.
“After decades, Puglia and Campania are directly connected by a Frecciarossa that unites seven provincial capitals – Lecce, Brindisi, Bari, Barletta, Foggia, Benevento and Naples – and strengthens the link between the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian Seas – commented the Councillor for Infrastructure and Mobility of the Puglia Region, Raffaele Piedmontese It's much more than a new rail service: it's an infrastructure that brings people, businesses, universities, tourism, and opportunities together. The Puglia Region has chosen to continuously invest in rail mobility, renewing regional trains, supporting intermodality, and supporting the investments of RFI and the FS Group. This connection is the first visible result of a broader transformation: with the completion of the new Naples-Bari high-speed/high-capacity line, expected by 2029, travel times and the competitiveness of Southern Italy as a whole will be profoundly changed. We will continue to do our part, confident that the FS Group will continue with the same determination in investing, improving the quality of services, and developing strategic connections for the whole of Puglia.
