Italy: Lombardia Adds EUR25m to Milano-Seregno Light Rail as Costs Jump Almost 50%

The Lombardia region has approved an additional EUR25 million for the Milano-Seregno light rail project after its estimated cost rose by almost 50%, Railway Gazette International reported on 31 July 2026.

The project was budgeted at EUR258.5 million in 2022; the revised 2025 estimate is EUR381.7 million. Railway.supply reported the cost increase followed contractor insolvencies, design revisions and higher construction costs. The new EUR25 million is routed through the City of Milan, with EUR15 million scheduled for 2029 and EUR10 million for 2030, supplementing EUR30 million previously allocated by Lombardia and a further EUR13 million committed in December 2025. Authorities have sought national government support to cover the remaining gap.

The 14.3 km line will have 25 stops spaced about 540 m apart, serving Milano, Bresso, Cormano, Cusano Milanino, Paderno Dugnano, Nova Milanese, Desio and Seregno, operated by 18 bidirectional 25 m trams. Services are planned every five minutes as far as Paderno Dugnano, every 10 minutes further north and every 30 minutes off-peak.

The line remains scheduled to open in 2029, though Railway Gazette noted that date is subject to financing and construction risk.