Four months without a metro line between Pozzuoli and Campi Flegrei: commuters are furious.

For four months, Metro Line 2 has been suspended between Campi Flegrei and Pozzuoli. It was supposed to reopen, at least on one track, by the end of September. Instead, it remains suspended, and commuters in the Phlegraean Fields area continue to contend with a replacement service deemed completely inadequate.

The line was closed in June, following inspections in the tunnel between Bagnoli and Pozzuoli following the powerful earthquake at the end of May. At that time, higher-than-normal CO₂ concentrations were detected, a phenomenon linked to bradyseism. Construction work on the new Via Nuova Agnano station began in September, scheduled for inauguration in preparation for the 2027 America's Cup. Work is proceeding at full speed on a line that, at present, is not carrying anyone.

A replacement service at the limit

Passengers complain daily. At Piazzale Tecchio, replacement buses can't handle the flow. "During the day, it's a nightmare," says Mariateresa, a shop assistant, "with incredibly long lines waiting for passengers to be sorted. Each bus has 15-20 seats, and I have to wait 40 or 50 minutes to get on."

In the evening, the situation worsens. "After 21 p.m., it's difficult to find a shuttle that stops between stops," explains Daniela, a secretary, "and I've often had to pay for a taxi even though I had a pass in my pocket." Pietro, a night school teacher, describes a service that "can't make up for the lack of a subway, with shuttles that don't follow schedules, rude drivers, missed rides, and last-minute changes to routes." A university professor recounts waiting an hour because the driver needed a rest and there were no other shuttles available. "And the fare even went up by 10 cents."

The institutional silence and the petition

Among the users is director Mario Gelardi, who wrote in a Facebook post: "Since June, everything from Campi Flegrei onwards has been closed, getting around is an ordeal. Instead of the metro, there are replacement shuttles, about the size of small school buses. They deal with all the traffic. I've never seen a traffic policeman manage them. The shuttles are packed. Sometimes you don't know if you'll be able to get on or off at the right stop. The mayor is encouraging us to use public transport. I don't have a car. I've always used public transport. It's not me who gave up. It's public transport that gave up on us. Naples doesn't end at Piazzale Tecchio."

Some commuters are directly challenging Mayor Manfredi: "He had his picture taken here, just a few steps away, with the new Line 6 trains. But why is he silent about Line 2?"

RFI is responsible for the infrastructure and service. The Regional Department of Civil Protection is managing the technical committee with the agencies involved in reopening the tunnel. At the end of September, after two months of testing, CO₂ levels were reduced thanks to a new extraction system. No further communications have been received since then.

Train users in the Phlegraean Fields are now preparing to mobilize against RFI and Trenitalia, with a petition calling for the resumption of service.