Train delays close to three hours as suspected saboteurs hit Italian rail network near Bologna

Record ID: 2338961

  • Title: Train delays close to three hours as suspected saboteurs hit Italian rail network near Bologna
  • Date: 7th February 2026
  • Summary: ROME, ITALY (FEBRUARY 7, 2026) (REUTERS) TIMETABLE IN TERMINI STATION DISPLAYING DELAYS STAFF MEMBERS STANDING POLICE OFFICER CARRYING OUT SECURITY CHECKS WOMAN LOOKING ON PEOPLE WALKING IN STATION (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN PASSENGER, CARLA MARIOTTI, SAYING: "I'm angry because our train from Bologna was supposed to leave at 11:20 a.m. They tossed us around, our train d
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: 2026 WINTER GAMES BOLOGNA DISRUPTION ITALY MILANO CORTINA OLYMPICS RAILWAY ROMA TERMINI ROME SABOTAGE STATION TRAIN
  • Location: BOLOGNA AND ROME, ITALY
  • City: BOLOGNA AND ROME, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Europe
  • Reuters ID: LVA002358607022026RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Train passengers in Italy faced delays of up to three hours on Saturday (February 7), following suspected sabotage to rail infrastructure near the northern city of Bologna, on the first full day of the Winter Olympic Games.
    Police reported three separate incidents at different locations, which caused severe disruption for high-speed, Intercity and regional train services.
    The Transport Ministry called it an act of "serious sabotage," adding that it echoed the opening day of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, when France's high-speed TGV train network was struck, causing travel chaos.
    The state-owned railway Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) had to temporarily close its high-speed station in Bologna, but traffic was slowly returning to normal by Saturday afternoon, it said.
    Police said a cabin housing a track switch was set on fire before dawn near the Adriatic city of Pesaro. Several hours later, electrical cables used to detect train speeds were found severed in Bologna, while a rudimentary explosive device was discovered by a track at a nearby location.
    A spokeswoman said no one had claimed responsibility for the incidents, which appeared to have been coordinated.
    Bologna is a major junction for Italy's east-to-west rail lines, and is also the key hub linking the south to northern cities such as Milan and Venice.
    Milan is a co-host of the Winter Games alongside Cortina, which is reachable via train from Venice.
    (Production: Veronica Altimari, Roberto Mignucci, Matteo Negri)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2026. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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