Trenitalia has launched a direct Frecciarossa service linking Lecce, Bari and Naples, in a move that strengthens rail travel between Campania and Puglia and cuts journey times across southern Italy.
The new train runs without changes and reaches Naples from Bari in about 3 hours and 30 minutes, and from Lecce in about 5 hours. It is one of the main summer 2026 additions on the Naples-Bari high-speed and high-capacity line.
The service was presented at Bari Centrale with mayors from the cities on the route and representatives from Campania and Puglia. Trenitalia, part of the FS Group, said the link improves access between major urban areas in the south and supports tourism, business and universities.
The direct train is part of a wider push to build out the Naples-Bari AV/AC line, which has now reached 55 km of new infrastructure in operation. The latest opening follows completion of the Naples-Cancello section, which added more than 15 km of double-track line and strengthens the link between regional services and the high-speed network via Napoli Afragola.
The route includes key stops at Brindisi, Bari Centrale, Barletta, Foggia, Benevento and Napoli Afragola. That gives passengers more travel options between the region’s main centres while also improving regularity on a corridor long seen as important for mobility in southern Italy.
Infrastructure works along the historic Naples-Cancello line also led to the removal of 12 level crossings, a change expected to ease road traffic in nearby areas. A new station at Acerra is already part of the project, while stops at Casalnuovo and Centro commerciale are due to open later.
The overall investment in the Naples-Bari project is around 1.1 billion euros. Trenitalia said the aim is to increase capacity, reduce travel times, improve punctuality and make rail access easier for inner areas along the route.
The new service also strengthens a strategic rail axis between the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian coasts. That could bring wider benefits for regional tourism and for businesses seeking faster links across the south of the country.
Tickets for the direct Frecciarossa are available through Trenitalia’s official channels, including its website, mobile app, station ticket offices and self-service machines. Passengers can check timetables, availability and fares in real time, and connect onwards to other national destinations through the high-speed network.
Napoli Afragola continues to play a central role in the network as a hub for high-speed, regional and road connections. The station is designed to make transfers easier and to improve access to Italy’s wider rail system.
