Public and private management of Italian railways: 1905-1985

This article traces the history of private and public management of Italian railways, start-ing from the private management systems created after the unification of Italy, with particular attention to the period from 1905 to 1985, when a large part of the national network was man-aged by the State Railways (Ferrovie dello Stato–FS). The research identifies the problems related to Italian railways in that period, from the first years after the foundation of FS, until the beginning of the new process of privatisation. The first years after 1905 focused on improving the railway system, left in poor condition by the private companies prior to nationalisation. The Great War required a huge effort for the recently established FS. Then came the twenty years of fascism (1922-1943), with an increase in the efficiency of the railway system but also with the first mani-festation of competition with cars and trucks. Finally, the period of the second half of the 20thcentury recorded a serious crisis of the system, with the closure of many secondary railways and with the perception of the train as a means of transport for the poor. Despite the commencement of the construction of the high-speed railway between Florenceand Rome, trains continued to lose ground in the transportation market. Private management returned between 1985 and 1992.