by InTrieste
Friuli Venezia Giulia is making €3 million available to railway companies affected by a planned suspension of rail traffic near the Austrian border, with the aim of offsetting additional costs and maintaining freight connections through the region.
The regional government said Tuesday that applications for the funding are now open. The measure was introduced as part of a budget adjustment approved Aug. 6 and is intended to help railway operators manage the consequences of the temporary closure.
Rail traffic is scheduled to be suspended from Aug. 22 through Sept. 20 on the line between Carnia and Thörl-Maglern, at the Italian-Austrian border, because of planned infrastructure work by Italy’s railway network operator, Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, or R.F.I.
During the same period, the Slovenian rail network will also be unavailable, requiring freight operators to use longer alternative routes. Among the options is a route through the Brenner corridor, which is expected to increase both operating costs and travel times.
Cristina Amirante, the regional infrastructure and territory councilor, said the funding program had been established quickly following consultations with railway industry associations.
The subsidy can cover the full alternative rail route required because of the closure, including international sections when they are necessary to bypass the affected line.
Regional officials said the measure is intended in part to prevent higher rail costs from encouraging freight operators to shift cargo from trains to trucks.
The closure is particularly significant for Friuli Venezia Giulia, which serves as a transportation link between Italy and Central Europe and is home to major port and logistics infrastructure. Regional authorities said maintaining rail freight connections was important to the competitiveness of the area’s logistics network.
Railway companies seeking the assistance must submit their applications by Aug. 20, 2026, exclusively by certified electronic mail to the regional transport, mobility and logistics service.
The regional government has published the application notice, forms and relevant regulations on its institutional website.
The funding is designed as a temporary response to the disruption, with the regional government describing the closure as a short-term but significant challenge for the region’s international freight connections.
