Trenitalia, Italy's national rail operator, is set to launch a direct high-speed service connecting Lecce and Naples in the southern region of the country.
Due to commence on 1 July, the new ‘Frecciarossa’ service will link the Apulia and Campania regions without requiring passengers to change trains.
From Lecce Station, services will stop at Brindisi, Bari Centrale, Barletta, Foggia, Benevento and Napoli Afragola before arriving at Naples Central Station.
The direct service will connect Lecce to Naples in about five hours, saving 30–90 minutes compared to current routes. Trenitalia said the service will provide “more direct connections between Southern Italy and the Naples transport hub, a strategic centre for national mobility”.
The service marks the initial phase of the new Naples–Bari High-Speed/High-Capacity (AV/AC) railway line, which, once completed, is expected to further reduce travel times.