ETCS Exception for Italy 2026: What Changes for Railway Companies and Manufacturers

Key data

Italian railway infrastructure managers and rolling stock manufacturers operating in Italy have the green light to maintain their current technical configurations of the ETCS (European Train Control System) without needing to adapt to the European standard within the general timeframes. This is established by Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1559, adopted by the European Commission on 10 July 2026 and published in the Official Journal on 14 July 2026.

The exception is granted under the Directive (EU) 2016/797 on railway interoperability, which allows Member States to request justified derogations from the application of common technical standards. Italy has exercised that right with respect to the priority framework of ground-supported levels of the ETCS system, regulated in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1695.

What does this regulation establish?

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1695 sets the priority framework of ground-supported levels within the ETCS system. In practical terms, this framework determines which versions and levels of the train control system must be operational in the railway infrastructure of each Member State and in what order of priority they must be implemented.

Decision 2026/1559 grants Italy a specific exemption from that obligation. This means that:

• Italian railway infrastructure managers are not required to apply the ETCS priority framework of Regulation 2023/1695 within the general timeframes provided for other Member States.
• Rolling stock operating exclusively in Italy may maintain its current technical configurations without incurring European regulatory non-compliance.
• The exemption is framed within the justified derogation mechanism of Directive 2016/797, which implies that Italy has had to demonstrate sufficient technical or operational reasons to the Commission.

Economic and operational impact

The exemption has a dual economic interpretation depending on the company profile:

• For operators and infrastructure working only in Italy: it represents immediate relief. They avoid the costs of technical adaptation to the ETCS priority framework of Regulation 2023/1695, which in railway modernization projects can be very significant (updating onboard equipment, homologations, interoperability tests).
• For companies with international routes including Italy: the exemption introduces a technical asymmetry. Rolling stock circulating between Italy and other EU countries must be compatible with two different technical environments, which can increase modernization project costs and complicate fleet planning.
• For rolling stock manufacturers: projects supplying exclusively to Italy will not need to comply with the European ETCS priority framework, but those for cross-border operations will. This requires managing two technical specifications in parallel.

Railway modernization projects currently underway in Italy must be reviewed in light of this exemption, as the planned ETCS implementation plans may have changed in scope or timeline.

Who does it affect?

• Railway infrastructure managers in Italy (such as RFI — Rete Ferroviaria Italiana): are the primary direct beneficiaries of the exemption.
• Railway companies operating international routes with Italy: must review their technical compatibility plans to avoid cross-border traffic problems.
• Rolling stock manufacturers that supply or plan to supply equipment to operate in Italy: need to know the exact scope of the exemption to define the technical specifications of their products.
• Consultants and advisors for railway modernization projects with presence in Italy: must update their regulatory compliance analyses.
• Investors and financiers of Italian railway infrastructure: the exemption may modify the timeframes and costs of already planned projects.

Practical example

A Spanish railway company operating a freight service between Barcelona and Milan has rolling stock equipped with ETCS according to the priority framework of Regulation 2023/1695. Upon entering Italian territory, the ground infrastructure may not be adapted to that same standard, since Italy has obtained the exemption.

This means that the company must verify whether its locomotives and wagons are compatible with the technical configurations currently in force on the Italian network — which may differ from the general European standard — and, if not, evaluate whether it needs additional equipment or adaptations to ensure uninterrupted traffic. This analysis must be carried out before planning any fleet expansion or service contract renewal that includes sections in Italy.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify if they operate in Italy or plan to do so: any railway company, manufacturer or manager with activity in Italy must analyze whether this exemption directly affects them.
2. Review ETCS technical compatibility plans: companies with international routes including Italy must update their interoperability analyses, checking whether rolling stock is compatible with current Italian configurations.
3. Update ongoing modernization projects: if there are ETCS implementation projects planned for Italy, review the scope and timeline in light of the exemption granted by Decision 2026/1559.
4. Consult the full text of Decision 2026/1559 and Regulation 2023/1695: to determine the exact scope of the exemption and the specific ETCS levels affected.
5. Coordinate with Italian infrastructure managers: especially RFI, to learn about the technical configurations in force on each network section and plan operations without compatibility risks.
6. Seek advice from experts in railway interoperability regulations: given the technical nature of the exemption, it is advisable to have specialized support to assess the real impact in each specific case.

Official source

Consult complete regulation at official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202601559