Rome and Pompeii will soon be linked by a direct high-speed train. The project is expected to be completed in 2024, Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano said in a television interview last week. Sangiuliano cited increased access to cultural heritage and economic growth as drivers of the new initiative.
The current journey from Rome to Pompeii takes around two hours and requires a transfer in Naples. The final segment of the journey is a scenic but time-consuming stretch along the Mediterranean Sea on a local train that makes frequent stops. The new rail line will avoid this last leg by adding Pompeii as a stop on an existing high-speed rail line that connects Sorrento, Naples and Rome. The construction of the new Pompeii station is expected to cost a few 35 million euros (~$38 million).
In 2021, Italy welcomed more than 27 million tourists because the tourism industry represented almost 10% of the country’s GDP. These numbers are expected increase as the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.
Pompeii was preserved in 79 CE when Mount Vesuvius blanketed the bustling city in ash. The archaeological park attracted almost three million visitors last year, and the new railway line could bring even more foot traffic to the ancient site.
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