Florence–Pisa Trains Suspended THIS WEEKEND October 9–11, 2026: Empoli–Pisa Section Closed for RFI Maintenance Works — Frecciarossa + Frecciargento Rome–Genoa Diverted — Replacement Route via Prato, Pistoia and Lucca Confirmed — Pisa Airport Direct Rail Link Broken — Bus Alternatives, Flibco Coach, Taxi and Motorway Guide for UK, US and Australian Visitors

Published: October 8, 2026 — (⚠️ THIS WEEKEND — Suspension starts TOMORROW · Confirmed by RFI, Trenitalia, The Florentine, ANSA, Regione Toscana — September 28, 2026)

If you are travelling between Florence and Pisa this weekend — or flying into Pisa Airport and connecting to Florence, or flying out of Pisa after time in Florence — the direct train you were counting on does not exist from tomorrow.

Rail services between Empoli and Pisa on the Florence–Pisa line are suspended for the entire weekend from Thursday October 9 through Saturday October 11, 2026, while Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) carries out scheduled maintenance works linked to the removal of the level crossing in Putignano, in the municipality of Pisa. Partial disruption also affects Wednesday October 8 and Monday October 12 with additional cancellations on those days.

The Empoli–Pisa section is the western half of the Florence–Pisa line. Without it, there is no direct Florence–Pisa train. The line that normally runs every hour between Florence Santa Maria Novella and Pisa Centrale in approximately 1 hour 20 minutes — serving Empoli, Pontedera, and the intermediate towns of the Valdera — is completely broken.

Beyond regional trains, the suspension also diverts Trenitalia’s long-distance Frecciarossa and Frecciargento high-speed services on the Rome–Genoa via Florence route, with cancellations and possible rerouting via Civitavecchia adding significant time to journeys between Rome and Pisa.

The weekend this suspension falls on is already one of the busiest for disruption in Tuscany this autumn. The Florence tram T1 and T2 strike also falls on Saturday October 10 — meaning both the train link to Pisa and the airport tram link to Florence Peretola are simultaneously unavailable for much of Saturday. Travellers who planned to arrive at Pisa Airport on Saturday afternoon and take the train to Florence face a compounded problem.

This is the complete guide — what is suspended, what is replacing it, which routes are most affected, and exactly how to travel between Florence and Pisa this weekend.

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Published: October 8, 2026 — ⚠️ THIS WEEKEND
Suspended section: Empoli → Pisa Centrale (western section of the Florence–Pisa / Livorno line)
Operator: RFI (Rete Ferroviaria Italiana) scheduled maintenance
Reason: Preparatory works for the removal of the Putignano level crossing — Municipality of Pisa
Suspension dates:  October 9,  October 10,  October 11 — all day
Partial disruption also: October 8 + October 12 (additional cancellations)
Normal journey time (Florence SMN → Pisa Centrale): ~1 hour 20 minutes via Empoli · ~hourly frequency · SUSPENDED
Regional services cancelled: Florence–Pisa · Florence–Livorno–Grosseto · Florence–La Spezia · Florence–Campiglia/Piombino — all affected with timetable changes, earlier departures, full or partial cancellations
Long-distance services diverted: Frecciarossa + Frecciargento Rome–Genoa via Florence Campo Marte — rerouted via Civitavecchia between Rome and Pisa · Roma Tiburtina stop cancelled · journey time significantly increased Replacement route (trains): Florence SMN → Prato → Pistoia → Lucca → Pisa — additional special trains confirmed · journey time approximately 2 hours 30 minutes–3 hours (versus normal 1h20)
Replacement buses (sostitutivi): Confirmed for stations on the affected section — check Trenitalia.com for departure times
Pisa Airport (PSA) rail link: ⚠️ AFFECTED — Pisa Mover connects airport to Pisa Centrale — Pisa Centrale itself is reachable via alternative route, but direct Florence–Pisa Airport trains are suspended
Florence tram strike same weekend: ⚠️ T1 + T2 suspended October 10 outside 06:30–09:30 and 17:00–20:00 — Florence Peretola Airport (FLR) tram link also down — see companion article
Check live timetables: trenitalia.com · italiarail.com · raileurope.com
Trenitalia helpline: +39 0689371892 (from abroad) · 060708 (from Italy) — active from October 10 at 00:00

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Part 1 — What Is Suspended and Why

The Florence–Pisa railway, known historically as the Ferrovia Leopolda after the Austrian Grand Duke Leopold II who commissioned it in the 1840s, is one of Tuscany’s most strategically important rail corridors. It connects Florence Santa Maria Novella to Pisa Centrale via Empoli and Pontedera, then continues to Livorno and southward to Grosseto and Campiglia. The line carries regional commuters, students, and tourists in both directions daily, and also serves as the path for a handful of InterCity and long-distance services connecting Rome, Florence, Pisa, Livorno, and Genoa on the western coastal route.

RFI confirmed on September 28, 2026 that the closure is linked to preparatory works for the suppression of the level crossing in the Putignano locality in the municipality of Pisa — a longstanding infrastructure project to eliminate a grade-level road-rail crossing that requires the relevant section of track to be taken out of service.

The affected section is specifically Empoli → Pisa Centrale. Trains between Florence and Empoli continue to run normally — passengers travelling to Empoli itself, or to stations east of Empoli, are unaffected. The problem begins at Empoli, where the western route toward Pisa cannot be used.

Tuscany’s regional transport councillor Stefano Boni issued a statement after RFI’s announcement acknowledging the strategic significance of the closure: “The Florence–Pisa rail line is one of the most heavily used in the region — a strategic line for workers and students, but also for connections between Tuscany’s two main airports.” He urged travellers to check alternatives carefully and called the works “unavoidable maintenance.”

The councillor added a candid warning: “The rail connection between Florence and Pisa via Pistoia does not replace the direct line. The replacement bus service for commuters at the affected stations cannot realistically match the capacity of the direct train, and a sufficient number of buses to cover the demand on that stretch cannot practically be scheduled.” In other words — the alternatives are slower and less convenient than the direct service. Plan accordingly.

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Part 2 — Which Services Are Affected: The Full Picture

Regional trains — Trenitalia:

All Trenitalia regional trains on the following routes are affected with timetable changes, earlier departure times, and full or partial cancellations:

• Florence SMN → Pisa Centrale (direct) — SUSPENDED. No direct Florence–Pisa trains via Empoli on October 9, 10, or 11.
• Florence → Livorno → Grosseto — timetable changes, earlier departures, cancellations on portions of the route
• Florence → La Spezia (via Pisa) — timetable changes, earlier departures, cancellations
• Florence → Campiglia Marittima / Piombino — timetable changes, earlier departures, cancellations

Long-distance trains — Frecciarossa and Frecciargento:

Italy’s high-speed Frecciarossa and Frecciargento services on the Rome–Florence–Pisa–Genoa route are rerouted or cancelled during the suspension period. The rerouting goes via Civitavecchia between Rome and Pisa, which removes the Roma Tiburtina stop from those services and adds significant additional travel time to the Rome–Pisa and Rome–Genoa journey.

Passengers who have booked Frecciarossa or Frecciargento tickets on the Rome–Genoa route via Florence for October 8–12 should check their specific train on Trenitalia.com immediately. Trenitalia will notify affected passengers directly by email or SMS if possible, but do not wait for that notification — check yourself.

October 8 and October 12 — partial impact days:

Further cancellations are confirmed on the days immediately before and after the main suspension window. If you are travelling on Wednesday October 8 or Monday October 12 on any Florence–Pisa or coastal route service, check your specific train — the disruption extends beyond the core October 9–11 window.

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Part 3 — The Replacement Route: Florence to Pisa via Prato, Pistoia and Lucca

RFI and Trenitalia have confirmed that additional special trains will run between Florence and Pisa using the alternative northern route via Prato, Pistoia and Lucca during the suspension period. This is the key operational replacement for the direct line.

The alternative route — what it looks like:

Florence Santa Maria Novella → Prato Centrale → Pistoia → Lucca → Pisa Centrale

This is a genuine alternative route using a different rail corridor — the Florence–Pistoia–Lucca–Pisa line — rather than the normal Empoli corridor. It passes through three towns the direct route does not serve, which is both its strength (for those who want to visit Pistoia or Lucca on the same trip) and its weakness (it takes significantly longer and has different departure times).

Journey time on the alternative route: Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours in total, depending on the specific service and connections — versus approximately 1 hour 20 minutes on the normal direct route. The suspension adds at least one hour and in some cases significantly more to the Florence–Pisa journey.

Practical implications for travellers using the alternative route:

The alternative trains are “treni straordinari” — additional special services added specifically to manage the suspension period. They will be listed on Trenitalia.com and should be bookable in the normal way. Check the Trenitalia website for the specific timetable of these additional services on October 9, 10 and 11 — the timetable was published at trenitalia.com in advance of the closure.

The Trenitalia customer helpline is active from October 10 at 00:00 for assistance: +39 0689371892 from abroad, or 060708 from within Italy.

Who should use the alternative route:

Travellers who have flexibility in their departure time and can absorb the additional journey time. The Prato–Pistoia–Lucca routing adds excellent day-trip potential — if you are travelling from Florence to Pisa this weekend, consider stopping in Lucca for a few hours before continuing to Pisa. Lucca is one of Tuscany’s most beautiful and undervisited cities — perfectly intact medieval walls, entirely flat cycling terrain, and far fewer tourists than Florence or Pisa.

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Part 4 — Pisa Airport Passengers: Your Specific Situation

This is the section most UK, US, and Australian visitors need most. Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport (PSA) is served by easyJet, Ryanair, British Airways, Jet2, Vueling, Transavia, ITA Airways, and many other carriers connecting the UK and Europe directly to Tuscany. It is one of the most-used regional airports in Italy by British tourists.

How Pisa Airport connects to Florence normally:

The normal route is straightforward. On arrival at PSA, take the Pisa Mover automated people-mover (3 minutes, €5) from the airport terminal to Pisa Centrale railway station. From Pisa Centrale, take a regional Trenitalia train to Florence Santa Maria Novella — approximately 1 hour 20 minutes, departing roughly every hour.

This weekend that second step does not work in the normal direction.

The Pisa Mover still operates normally — it runs between the airport and Pisa Centrale and is unaffected by the Empoli–Pisa rail closure. You can reach Pisa Centrale from the airport as normal.

From Pisa Centrale, your options for reaching Florence are:

Option A — Replacement train via Lucca, Pistoia, Prato (recommended for flexibility):

At Pisa Centrale, board a special Trenitalia replacement service toward Florence via Lucca, Pistoia and Prato. Journey time approximately 2.5–3 hours. Check the specific departure times at trenitalia.com before you travel. This is the train-based solution confirmed by RFI and Trenitalia.

Option B — Flibco direct coach (recommended for airport arrivals):

Flibco operates direct coach services between Pisa International Airport and Florence city centre. The Flibco coach does NOT use the rail network — it runs on the A11 motorway (Autostrada Firenze–Mare) connecting Florence to Pisa directly. It is completely unaffected by the Empoli–Pisa rail closure. Journey time approximately 60–80 minutes depending on traffic. Tickets bookable in advance at flibco.com. This is your most straightforward option if you arrive at Pisa Airport and want to reach Florence without navigating the rail replacement services.

Option C — Taxi or private transfer:

A taxi or private transfer from Pisa Airport to Florence city centre takes approximately 60–75 minutes via the A11 motorway and costs approximately €80–120 depending on the provider. Pre-book through your hotel or through a transfer provider (Blacklane, GoOpti) rather than taking an airport taxi rank on spec — on a weekend when the rail link is broken, taxi demand at PSA will be higher than usual.

Option D — Rent a car:

Pisa Airport has on-site car rental desks from all major providers. If your itinerary involves multiple Tuscan destinations or you are comfortable driving in Italy, a rental car solves the transport problem entirely. The A11 motorway to Florence is a straightforward 80km route.

For travellers flying OUT of Pisa this weekend:

If you are based in Florence and flying from Pisa Airport on October 9, 10, or 11, the same options apply in reverse. Allow significantly more time than usual — Flibco or a private transfer are the most reliable options. Do not plan to take the direct Florence–Pisa train this weekend.

Recommended minimum time to allow — Pisa Airport to Florence, this weekend:

• Via Flibco coach: Allow 90–120 minutes total (check-in + journey)
• Via taxi/private transfer: Allow 90–120 minutes total
• Via replacement train (Pisa Centrale → Lucca → Pistoia → Florence): Allow 3.5–4 hours total from airport door to Florence SMN

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Part 5 — Tuscany’s Compounded Weekend: Rail Closure + Tram Strike

Saturday October 10 is the most complex travel day in Tuscany this autumn, because two separate disruptions overlap simultaneously:

1. Florence–Pisa Empoli section closure (October 9–11): The direct Florence–Pisa train does not run. Alternative route via Pistoia and Lucca adds 1–2 hours to the journey.

2. Florence GEST tram strike (October 10 only): Florence’s T1 and T2 tram lines are on strike for 24 hours, with guaranteed services only from 06:30–09:30 and 17:00–20:00. The T2 line — the direct tram link between Florence Peretola Airport (FLR) and Santa Maria Novella — is at risk outside those windows.

The practical consequence for a traveller arriving at Pisa Airport on Saturday afternoon wanting to reach Florence:

• Normal route (Pisa Mover → Pisa Centrale → direct train to Florence SMN): ❌ SUSPENDED
• Alternative route (Pisa Centrale → replacement train via Lucca → Florence SMN): ✅ Available but 3+ hours
• Flibco coach (Pisa Airport → Florence city centre): ✅ Available, approximately 70–80 minutes, motorway route, recommended
• On arrival in Florence: T2 tram to your accommodation (if near the tram route): ⚠️ SUSPENDED during 09:30–17:00 and after 20:00

A traveller arriving at Pisa Airport at 13:00 on Saturday, taking Flibco, arriving Florence at 14:30, and trying to take the T2 tram from Santa Maria Novella to the airport corridor: the tram is not running during that window.

The simplest advice for Saturday October 10 specifically: take Flibco from Pisa Airport to Florence, pre-book accommodation in the city centre within walking distance of Santa Maria Novella, and use city buses (ATAF/Busitalia — unaffected by the GEST tram strike) for any central Florence movement.

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Part 6 — The Tuscany October Disruption Calendar: Full Picture

The Florence–Pisa closure and the Florence tram strike sit within a broader October disruption pattern across Tuscany that all visitors should know:

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Part 7 — Alternative Transport Options: Complete Summary

Florence to Pisa — this weekend:

Pisa Airport to Florence — this weekend:

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Key Contacts — Florence–Pisa Rail Suspension October 9–11

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Posted By : Vinay

As a lead contributor for Travel Tourister, Vinay is dedicated to serving our Tier 1 audience (US, UK, Canada, Australia). His mission is to deliver precise, fact-checked news and actionable, data-driven articles that empower readers to make informed decisions, minimize travel risks, and maximize their adventure without compromising safety or budget.